Dr. Bobby Jones was a revered figure on the Mercer University campus and in the Macon community. Through his love of teaching, his effortlessly forged friendships and his dedication to helping others, he became a true Mercer Legend.
Dr. Bobby Jones
Mercer connection: Faculty member and education department chair
Years at Mercer: 1969-1992
What he did: Dr. Jones grew up in the Tindall Heights neighborhood of Macon and earned an associate’s degree in mathematics at Morehouse College, master’s degree in education at Columbia University and Doctor of Education at the University of Georgia. He began his career teaching elementary and secondary school math, including at Ballard-Hudson High School, the only school for Black ninth through 12th grade students in Macon at the time. He went on to serve as the mathematics curriculum director and director of special services for Bibb County schools before beginning to work for Mercer as director of special services, which included the Upward Bound program, in 1969.
A few years later, he became the University’s first Black professor when he joined the faculty in the education department. He taught both undergraduate and graduate courses and coordinated the student teachers program. Dr. Jones was named chair of the education department in 1979, making him the first Black professor to lead one of the University’s departments. He also directed the African American studies program for a time and was the academic advisor for Kappa Delta Epsilon educational fraternity.
Dr. Jones served on the Georgia Advisory Council on Education, was elected president of the Georgia Association of Teacher Educators, and was awarded Mercer’s Spencer B. King Distinguished Professor Award. He was very involved in the community, sat on numerous city boards, and was a volunteer tutor for Bibb County high school athletes.
Dr. Jones and his wife, Delores, also a mathematics educator, had two children. He retired from Mercer in spring 1992 and died in December that year at age 60.
Why he’s a legend: Dr. Jones was passionate about teaching and believed education should be fun. He earned a reputation for being an outstanding professor and mentor to future educators, and he was often requested as an educational consultant, workshop leader and guest speaker. Among the topics he spoke on was intercultural sensitivity, and he worked to fight racial stereotypes, build bridges and bring the community together.
Coming from humble roots, he was dedicated to giving back to the community that had supported him. For instance, Dr. Jones grew up playing at the Booker T. Washington Community Center and regularly volunteered at the center as an adult. He was instrumental in creating the center’s teen performing arts program and opening the Tubman African American Museum in Macon.
“Time and time again, he would inconvenience himself to help others,” Howard Scott, executive director of the Booker T. Washington Community Center, said after Jones’ death. “He always told me, ‘If you’re too big to do the little things, then you’re too little to do the big things.’ No matter how big he got in the community, he always had time to do the little things for people.”
Dr. Jones was a “caring, devoted man with a genuine concern for people, especially youngsters,” according to a 1981 article in The Macon Telegraph. He believed in getting to know people and calling them by name, which made him a popular and beloved figure on the Mercer campus and in the Macon community.
He had a unique talent for connecting with young people, which made him an approachable, effective and impactful professor. With his animated and humor-filled teaching approach, he helped students grasp important concepts, celebrated their successes and empowered them. Described as a “natural ham” with an unforgettable “expressiveness and fire that burned in his eyes,” Dr. Jones lived his life fully and passionately.
Quotable: “Bobby saw something in me that I didn’t yet see in myself — always referring to me as ‘Top Drawer’ in his beautifully dramatic way. Through his mentorship, he helped me discover not just a career but a calling. He encouraged us to be ‘Bridge Builders,’ often reminding us that while many in the world are intent on tearing down and creating division, Mercerians are called to build, to connect, to edify, to strengthen. His picture sits in my office, overlooking my desk — a constant reminder of the impact he made on my life. I know I’ll never be able to repay what Bobby Jones — and so many others at Mercer — have done for me. So instead, I’ve committed myself to spending my days at Mercer doing everything I can to pay it forward.” — Dr. Penny Elkins, executive vice president, interim provost and a Double Bear
Mercer Legends is a series that highlights iconic figures who left a lasting impact on the University and its faculty, staff and students, as well as the community.
