Dr. Fred Thomas Jones
(1877–1938)
In 1919, 1932, Jones established the Great Southern Fraternal Hospital in Little Rock. 1921, Jones organized the Great Southern Mutual Life Insurance Company
In 1927, Jones organized the Great Southern Investment Company, a financial lending institution aimed at helping black farmers and property owners.
Jones served as president of the Arkansas Medical, Dental, and Pharmaceutical Association in 1934 and as an officer of the National Medical Association. He was also active in civic, business, and religious affairs of Little Rock, including the Black Chamber of Commerce, which Jones helped establish, although the year of establishment is unknown.
Dr. Fred T. Jones
Pioneer in providing insurance and medical care to black Americans in Arkansas and Louisiana
Dr. Jones was born on September 8, 1877, in Homer, Louisiana, Fred Thomas Jones hailed from a family deeply rooted in resilience and determination. He was the eldest of eleven siblings, born to Fred R. and Harriet E. Jones, who instilled in their children the value of education despite the shadows of a past generation’s enslavement. The lineage of his birth intertwined with a history echoing the tumultuous era preceding the Civil War, where his grandfather emerged as a prosperous farmer, transcending the chains of bondage.
Fred Thomas embarked on his educational journey at Claiborne Parish School in Louisiana before advancing to Bishop College in Marshall, Texas, and eventually the Tuskegee Institute in Alabama. His quest for knowledge culminated in a diploma from The Arkansas Branch Normal College and a graduation from Meharry Medical College in Tennessee in 1905.
In the course of his studies, Fred Thomas entered into matrimony with Hattie McGraw, resulting in the birth of their daughter, Mable, although the union eventually dissolved. In 1907, he found lasting companionship with Katie Lizzie Chandler, with whom he shared the joy of raising a family of seven children.
Despite his earnest efforts to establish a medical practice in his hometown, prejudice cast a shadow over his aspirations. Relocating to Shreveport, he founded Mercy Sanitarium in 1915 before heeding the call from Dr. R. A. Williams of Chicago, leading him to Little Rock, Arkansas. There, he pioneered one of the state’s most prominent medical practices, culminating in the establishment of the Booker T. Washington Memorial Hospital in 1918, later renamed the J. E. Bush Memorial.
Fred Thomas Jones was not only a visionary in medicine but also a trailblazer in business. He introduced the innovative ‘Hospital plan’ in 1920, enabling individuals to contribute monthly dues towards future hospitalization. His entrepreneurial spirit gave rise to The Great Southern Mutual Life Insurance Company and Jones Brothers Laboratories, aimed at providing affordable pharmaceuticals to the underserved.
Beyond his professional endeavors, Dr. Jones ardently championed civic causes. He played a pivotal role in founding the Little Rock Black Chamber of Commerce, advocating for improved amenities and educational opportunities for the Black community. His devout commitment extended to his leadership within the Baptist Church, where he chaired endowment committees and made significant contributions to Baptist College.
Throughout his illustrious career, Dr. Fred Thomas Jones garnered recognition for his groundbreaking contributions to medicine and his unwavering commitment to social progress. Among his notable accolades, he received prestigious awards from the medical community, including the Arkansas Medical, Dental, and Pharmaceutical Association, in recognition of his outstanding leadership and pioneering initiatives in healthcare.
His visionary establishment, the Booker T. Washington Memorial Hospital (later renamed the J. E. Bush Memorial), stood as a beacon of hope and healing for the marginalized communities of Little Rock, Arkansas. Dr. Jones’s tireless efforts to provide accessible and compassionate medical care earned him widespread acclaim and gratitude from those he served.
Tragically, at the age of sixty-one, Fred Thomas Jones passed away on July 12, 1938, just two months following the death of his beloved wife, Katie. Their final resting place lies in the serene grounds of Haven of Rest Cemetery in Little Rock, Arkansas, a testament to their enduring legacy of resilience, compassion, and unwavering dedication to uplifting their community.