MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2013

By: Senator(s) Horhn, Butler (38th), To: Rules Frazier, Jackson (32nd), Parker, Simmons (12th)

SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 518

1 A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION MOURNING THE LOSS AND COMMENDING THE 2 LIFE AND PROFESSIONAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF DR. THEODORE CORNELIUS 3 JONES, THE FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN ORTHODONTIST AND DENTAL SCHOOL 4 FACULTY MEMBER IN THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, AND EXPRESSING THE 5 SYMPATHY OF THE LEGISLATURE. 6 WHEREAS, Theodore Cornelius Jones was born to the late George 7 Sr. and Mildred Jones in Jackson, Mississippi, on September 29,

8 1941. He was the older of two sons. Ted married the former 9 Clintoria Inge and to that union five children were born: Dana, 10 Vann, Margo, Kristen and Karrin; and 11 WHEREAS, Ted received his diploma from Jim Hill High School 12 in Jackson, Mississippi. He attended in 13 Tougaloo, Mississippi and obtained his Bachelor's degree in 14 Chemistry. He obtained his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from

15 Howard University in Washington, D.C.; and 16 WHEREAS, Dr. Jones served as Captain in the United States Air 17 Force. He obtained a Master's of Science and Teaching degree from 18 in Jackson, Mississippi; and

S. C. R. No. 518 *SS01/R652* ~ OFFICIAL ~ G1/2 13/SS01/R652 PAGE 1 (cc\tb) 19 WHEREAS, Dr. Jones was a champion in the cause of dentistry 20 throughout the State of Mississippi, and nationally. He was the 21 first African-American accepted into and graduated from the 22 Orthodontic Program at Tufts University School of Dental Medicine 23 in Boston, Massachusetts; the first African-American Orthodontist 24 in the State of Mississippi and in Memphis, Tennessee; the first

25 African-American faculty member and interim Chairman of the 26 Department of Orthodontics and the University of Mississippi 27 School of Dentistry; and 28 WHEREAS, Dr. Jones served on the Mississippi State Board of 29 Dental Examiners for eight years and was elected President for one 30 year of his tenure; and 31 WHEREAS, this respected dentist is responsible for thousands

32 of beautiful smiles. He hails as a community leader and 33 businessman who loved and supported his colleagues, friends and 34 neighbors. Dr. Jones was a member of the National Dental 35 Association, Mississippi Dental Society (Past President), American 36 Dental Association, Mississippi Dental Association, Continental

37 Orthodontic Study Club, Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity, and Alpha Phi 38 Alpha Fraternity. His numerous honors and awards included the

39 Leon T. Britton Dental Service Award and the Mississippi Dental 40 Society's President's Award. His love of the practice of 41 dentistry was surpassed only by his love of singing, acting, and 42 spoiling his fourteen grandchildren; and

S. C. R. No. 518 *SS01/R652* ~ OFFICIAL ~ 13/SS01/R652 PAGE 2 (cc\tb) 43 WHEREAS, Dr. Jones was dedicated, with pride and commitment 44 to the dental profession and the public with 43 years of service. 45 He maintained his private practice in Jackson, Mississippi, until 46 his death on June 19, 2012. His warm, compassionate, generous 47 heart opened his office as a first workplace for many newly 48 licensed dentist, and it is with sadness that we note the passing

49 of this dedicated professional who leaves a legacy of leadership 50 and dedication to all in the dental profession in Mississippi: 51 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF 52 MISSISSIPPI, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THEREIN, That 53 we do hereby mourn the loss and commend the life and professional 54 accomplishments of Dr. Theodore Cornelius Jones, the first 55 African-American orthodontist and the first University of

56 Mississippi Dental School faculty member in the history of the 57 State of Mississippi, and extend to his surviving family our 58 sympathy on his passing. 59 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be forwarded to 60 the National Dental Association and its local chapter, the

61 Mississippi Dental Society, his wife, Clintoria, his children: 62 Dr. Dana Jones Bryant, Vann Jones, Margo Jones Thomas, Kristen

63 Jones, Karrin Jones and the family, and made available to Capitol 64 Press Corps.

S. C. R. No. 518 *SS01/R652* ~ OFFICIAL ~ 13/SS01/R652 ST: Commend the life of Dr. Theodore Jones, PAGE 3 (cc\tb) first African-American orthodontist and Dental School Faculty member in Mississippi.