Mrs. Velma Lois Jones is a lifelong Memphian, trailblazing educator, civil rights leader, and community advocate. Mrs. Jones’ service has shaped generations. A 2025 Freedom Award honoree, she made history as the first classroom teacher elected president of both the Memphis Education Association and the Tennessee Education Association, where she served as the longest-tenured president in the organization’s history. She is the first woman elected president of the NAACP Memphis Branch and served with distinction internationally and regionally with Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated. She shares her journey in an education career and her hope for the growth and learning of future generations.