Sheila Jones wore many hats in the community of Jasper County, Georgia, before making history as the first African American woman elected to the Jasper County Board of Commissioners in 2021.
Jones, whose district is largely made up of the City of Monticello, previously served on the Jasper County School Governance Team in Monticello and worked as a certified nursing assistant caring for patients and their families at The Retreat Nursing Home and Jasper Memorial Hospital.
For many years, Jones was also a school bus monitor and driver for the Jasper County Public School System, transporting students to and from school and building relationships with their families.
“I haven’t driven a school bus in almost 10 years, but I keep my application active,” Jones said.
A county resident for more than 35 years and a 1989 graduate of Jasper County High School, Jones said her commitment to civic work and passion for helping others were only part of the reason she decided to seek the District 1 seat on the Jasper County Board of Commissioners.
“It chose me,” Jones said of her historic win in a special election in March 2021. “When the seat became available, God laid it upon my heart to run so I could be a voice for the underserved people in District 1.”
Two years into her term, Jones, who is also the first woman to serve as vice chair on the commission, is grappling with the realization that despite her past work in the community, not all county residents celebrated her historic win or were eager to see another African American woman holding a political seat in the South.
“One of the greatest challenges I’ve faced since being elected is accepting that a lot of people are not going to accept me because of the color of my skin tone,” she said. “It’s also accepting that not everyone will respect my title and call me Commissioner Jones or Vice Chair Jones.”
Still, Jones said it’s important to be aware of the diverse beliefs and political affiliations among residents as she makes decisions that will impact all residents in her district. Since taking office, she has worked to bring county residents together through events such as an annual festival and parade recognizing Juneteenth, a federal holiday to commemorate the end of slavery in the United States.
“I was the first to coordinate the Jasper County Juneteenth Festival and Parade, even after being told the city would never close off the streets for something like that,” she said.
Uniting the residents of her district and working across party lines was also a promise she made during her campaign, said Jones, a Democrat, who ran on the platform “Homegrown With A Fresh Vision: Together We Can Make A Difference.”
“It’s time for change,” said Jones, who recognizes that race and party differences can often creep into politics and decisions on county projects. “Every day, I strive to make changes. You also must have a relationship with Jesus, know the power of prayer, and be willing to work with all people. You have to be able to accept criticism, disappointments, and you must know how to be professional at all times no matter what situation you’re facing.”
Bringing progress to her district has also meant dedicating every day to replying to constituent emails and phone calls, riding through her district to survey roads and signs, attending state, local and national meetings, and pushing for county improvement projects, Jones said.
“I attend most of the Monticello City Council meetings because the city makes up a great part of my district,” she said. “Even though a project may be in District 1, it benefits all city residents, and for me they are still part of District 1 and deserve equality.”
Jones is currently working with city and county officials to improve parks and recreation infrastructure in the county, including the addition of a new pavilion, park benches, and picnic tables in Sands Park, one of the oldest parks in District 1.
“The park has been in need of improvements, and was in ruin when I took office,” she said. “I’m looking forward to seeing improvements to this park and others in the county. I’m hoping, one day, the county will have its own grant writers to get projects like this off the ground.”
Jones, who also wants to push for an increase in county workers’ pay and focus on more initiatives for Jasper youth, said she hopes to bring more growth to her district by partnering with the city.
“It’s always a positive sign when our county commissioners are communicating and coming together with the Monticello City Council and mayor to find ways to improve the community for Jasper County residents,” she said.
The unity and progress she has seen in Jasper County since taking office has inspired Jones to step into other roles at the state and national levels — even if it means being the first to do so — to help Jasper County.
Jones is the first Jasper County commissioner to serve as a member of the Atlanta Black Chambers, the National Association of Counties (NACo), Women of NACo, Georgia Association of Black County Officials, and the National Organization of Black County Officials, she said. She is also a member of the Association of County Commissioners of Georgia.
Her memberships with such organizations will ensure Jasper County, a small community of nearly 15,000 residents located a little more than 50 miles southeast of Atlanta, continues to thrive, Jones said.
“If you are in it for the right reasons that you were voted in for, serving on the commission is a full-time job,” said Jones, who added that she still makes it a priority to spend time with her mother, Dollie Gantt, and son, Tyler Pounds, who excels in his academics and is one of a few African American students in the Beta Club and on the Golf Team at his school.
“I mention all of these things (about my son) because being African American this doesn’t happen too often in Jasper County,” she said. “It’s why every day, I strive to find better ways to serve all the citizens of Jasper County, not just those in my district. I do see changes being made. And when I receive positive feedback from the citizens and constituents in my district, all of this work makes my job as commissioner worthwhile.”