In 1980, he became the first African American to
serve as a law clerk for the Supreme Court of Virginia. More than 20
years later, Virginia Delegate and Virginia Legislative Black Caucus
Chairman Jerrauld C. Jones has been hailed as one of the most effective
and prolific spokespersons for the state’s 1.2 million African Americans.
In 1961, he integrated his elementary school and
again tore down racial barriers in 1968, when he entered the Virginia
Episcopal School in Lynchburg, Virginia, graduating in 1972. Delegate
Jones earned his baccalaureate degree with honors from Princeton University
in 1976 and, four years later, was awarded a law degree from the Washington
and Lee University School of Law.
Delegate Jones chairs the Virginia House of Delegates
standing committee on the Chesapeake Bay and has led the Virginia Commission
on Youth. He has demonstrated his position of leadership within the General
Assembly over the years as a member of the Finance; Transportation; Courts of
Justice; and Corporations, Insurance and Banking committees. Recognized nationally
as an expert on juvenile crime, Delegate Jones was appointed by U.S. President
Bill Clinton to serve as a delegate to the White House Conference on Youth,
Drug Use and Violence.
"Develop goals
very early in life and then
work tirelessly toward them."
He is also a partner in the largest minority-owned law firm
in Hampton Roads, Virginia. During his legal career, he has established a reputation
as a zealous trial lawyer who has handled many high-profile cases.
Delegate Jones further supports the community by serving
on the boards of directors for Sentara Health Systems, Big Brothers/Big Sisters,
Norfolk Marine Institute and the Urban League of Hampton Roads.
For his outstanding achievements, Delegate Jones was awarded
the National Conference of Christians and Jews Humanitarian Award for community
service, selected as the Virginia Parent Teacher Association’s (PTA) Child Advocate
of the Year, presented with Old Dominion University’s award for outstanding
service named in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and honored with the United
Negro College Fund’s “Flamebearer for Education” award.
The lawmaker encourages today’s youth to “begin to develop
goals very early in life and then work tirelessly toward them. Those goals should
include a deep commitment to self-improvement.”
