(L-R) Dr. Sophia B. Jones and her sister Anna H. Jones (Photos courtesy of Oberlin College Archives)
Two notable African American sisters from Monrovia, whose graves have remained unmarked at Live Oak Memorial Park, will finally receive recognition with the addition of grave markers.
By News Desk
A special program celebrating the lives and legacies of Anna H. Jones and Dr. Sophia B. Jones will take place on Saturday, May 3. The event will begin at 11:00 am. with a program and luncheon at Second Baptist Church, located at 925 S. Shamrock Ave., followed by the dedication of their grave markers at 3:00 pm at Live Oak Memorial Park. Both the program and luncheon are free and open to the public. RSVP by April 25 by calling (626) 664-6537 or emailing spicerbatice@gmail.com.
Born in the 1850s, Anna and Sophia were trailblazers in education and medicine, overcoming significant racial and gender barriers. Yet, their remarkable stories remain largely unknown.
Anna H. Jones
Anna H. Jones (Photo courtesy of Oberlin College Archives)
Anna was a visionary educator, suffragist, and civil rights leader who made lasting contributions to higher education in the U.S. She made history as a teacher at Ohio’s Wilberforce University, where she also served as Dean of Women. Later, she became the first African American teacher in Kansas City and, subsequently, the first African American principal at Douglass School, a public school for African Americans. She founded the Kansas City Colored Women’s League, was a founding member of the National Association of Colored Women’s Clubs, and in 1900, delivered a paper at the first Pan-African Congress in London. Eventually, she moved to Monrovia with her siblings, settling at 1301 S. Shamrock Ave., where she operated a small orange ranch and continued her activism by founding the “Anna H. Jones Club.” This organization, which still exists today, helps local graduates pursue a college education.
Sophia B. Jones
Sophia B. Jones
Sophia, equally determined, chose to focus on medicine. Denied admission to the University of Toronto’s medical school because of her race, she pursued her dream in the U.S. and, in 1885, became the first African American woman to graduate from the University of Michigan Medical School. She then became the first Black female faculty member at Spelman College in Atlanta, where she established the nursing program. She also taught at Wilberforce University, worked at Frederick Douglass Hospital, and published influential work on public health. Like her sister, she spent her final years at the family home on South Shamrock. Both women were part of the elite circles of Black activists, with their close friend W.E.B. Du Bois, co-founder of the NAACP, marking each of their passings in his national magazine, The Crisis.
Their stories are a testament to perseverance, scholarship, and activism. This gathering will celebrate their extraordinary achievements and uncover the lesser-known aspects of their contributions to higher education and medicine. All are invited to learn more about these pioneering women and witness the dedication of their newly placed grave markers at Live Oak Memorial Park.
Sponsors: Second Baptist Church, Monrovia ChangeMakers, Monrovia Historical Society, Monrovia Historical Museum, Monrovia Historic Preservation Group, Monrovia Duarte Black Alumni Association, Anna H. Jones Club, Live Oak Cemetery, Randy Montgomery & Valley Monument.
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