Clyde Jones, New Zion Pastor, St. Helena Parish, La.
File submitted by Bonnie Bridges McMillan
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Many thanks goes to Bonnie Bridges McMillan, author of "New
Zion Baptist Church, 1869-1994" from which this file was taken.

CLYDE JONES
1942 & 1948 - 1950

     Thank you for your letter postmarked January 21, 1994.  While
studying in Psalms this morning, I came across Psalms 143:5, "I
muse on the works of thy hands."

     One of the deacons at New Zion was named Muse Alford.  He 
was old, fat, and a lovable man.  He was faithful to the Lord and
to New Zion Baptist Church.  He always had a good spirit.

     James Frazier and I worked in the shipyard during World War
II.  He asked me if I would like to preach at New Zion Baptist
Church.  I was delighted to accept.  This became my first church
to serve as pastor.  I was a student at Baptist Bible Institute
in New Orleans.

     The people were so good to us.  Evelyn and I loved the people
and the people loved us.  We moved to Clinton, Miss. to go to col-
lege.  Four years later, New Zion called me again to be pastor and
I went to New Orleans Baptist Seminary.

     Our first daughter, Dana Jones, was born during my first year
at Mississippi College.  Our second daughter, Andra Jones, was 
born one month before returning the New Orleans Baptist Seminary.

     We moved into an old house behind New Zion and went back and
forth to Seminary in New Orleans.  We enjoyed our work.  The peo-
ple at New Zion were so good to us.  I remember Eual Frazier and
family. A.D. Newman and family, Johnny Alford, Shirley Frazier,
who was about 15 years old at that time, Willie Newman and the
rest of his family.

     Buying votes was common in those days.  When I preached a-
gainst it, two of our deacons talked to me about why buying votes
was necessary.  We did not agree, but that did not hinder our
friendship.

     Margie Bridges told us that she was saved while I was preach-
ing.  She and Evelyn were close friends.

     One day I went on horse back with A.D. Newman to round up
some of his cows in the woods.  I had never seen a cow run before
that time.  I was surprised to see how fast they could run.

     I learned to milk a cow in Eual Frazier's barn, but it was
over in a short time.  James Frazier kept my car running and it
lasted throughout WW II years.

     We lived ten years in Louisiana and Mississippi, and moved
to Augusta, Georgia.  But, we went to visit our friends in Louisi-
ana and Mississippi from time to time for Homecoming Days, etc.
Thank the Lord for all of those precious years God has been good
to us.

Sincerely,

Clyde Jones and Joyce