Sandra Jones

2015 ATCB Lifetime Achievement Award Recipient

Reverend Sandra Lynn Young Jones

The Reverend Sandra Lynn Young Jones was born on June 28, 1951 to William and Helen Johnson Young. She is the second child in a family of four girls Anne Louise Young Thomas (deceased), Valinsa Dionette Young Keys and Nancy Laverne Young Giles (Kevin). She married Monroe Wright Jones (deceased) and they have two children Eric Monroe Jones (Janina) and Olivia Yvonne Jones Radcliffe (Stacy). She is the beloved grandmother of Hannah Markeric Jones (Olivia’s), three step-grandchildren (Eric’s), Trey, Brie and Xavier Lomax and foster mother of Darnell Keith. She is aunt to Clarrissa Young, Leah Giles and Anthony Keys (Samantha) (Sam).

Reverend Jones attended Bland Elementary and graduated from Powell Valley High School in 1970. Her first job after graduation was with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) where she worked until moving with her husband Monroe (Army) to Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, Texas. While in Texas, she worked at McDonalds during the times when you had to add the order in your head and on paper. Upon returning to her beloved Big Stone Gap, Rev. Jones worked at the Bread and Chicken House, the Social Security Administration in Norton, VA and worked 17 years for Westmoreland Coal Company in the Health and Safety Department. After the downsizing of Westmoreland, she worked briefly at Mountain Empire Community College in Public Relations and Small Business . She then began 22 years of employment at Clinch Valley College (now The University of Virginia’s College at Wise) in the Office of Development. Rev. Jones graduated Cum –Laude from Mountain Empire Community College and is working on her BS degree at UVa-Wise.

After raising her two children, she began raising her granddaughter Hannah in 1999. Hannah is a rising senior (an advanced student) and will finish high school in December 2015. Hannah will continue her studies at UVa-Wise in Spring 2016. While raising her granddaughter, Rev. Jones became a foster mother to Darnell Keith who graduated from Powell Valley High School in 1999. Upon his completion of high school, God opened the door for her to take in her aged parents (Helen Young Humphrey and Morris Humphrey) where they lived until their deaths on December 11 and December 15, 2002. In addition, Rev. Jones was called into the ministry in 1996 and licensed and ordained in 1997 while, at the same time, working a full-time . She is currently the pastor of two African Methodist Episcopal Zion (AME-Zion) Churches (Williams Chapel, Big Stone Gap, VA and Goode Temple, Lynch, KY).

In her spare time – she writes commentaries for the Big Stone Gap Post, and sings with the gospel singing group “Changed”.

Her hobbies include cutting grass and growing flowers and rearranging her furniture.

Ministry Education:

  • The Sewanee (The School of Theology) –Education for Ministry – EFM.

  • The Berean School of the Bible (Global University).

  • Completed 4 years of study with the A.M.E. Zion church.

  • Statistician for the Mid-Atlantic II-East TN & VA Conference

  • Administrative Elder for the Johnson City District of the East TN & VA Conference

Rev. Jones has received the following awards and certificates:

  • Making a Difference Award from the Black History Month Committee at The University of Virginia’s College at Wise.

  • Outstanding Supervisor of Student Workers.

  • Commitment to Diversity Award from Student Life at UVa-Wise.

  • Movers and Shakers award – Bristol Herald Courier.

  • News articles: The Big Stone Gap Post, The Times News and the UVa-Wise Magazine and television interviews (most recently concerning the tragedy in Charleston).

  • Community:

  • MLK, Jr. speaker for the Southeast Kentucky Community & Technical College.

  • Community Lenten Service Speaker/Singer.

  • Community Day of Prayer speaker.

  • Plans and executes the MLK, Jr. celebration at UVa-Wise for 18 years

  • Plans and executes Black History Month Programs for UVa-Wise and the Big Stone Gap Community.

  • Sisterly Love Legends in White Award – Kingsport, TN.

What can I say to these things ----if God is for US – Who can be against Us?