Tabor City tribune. (Tabor City, N.C.) 1946-1991, 1959-02-11
His Gentle To.zes, Has Been Kew
To Success OF Mukinu Hiuh School

away from the school profession
only to find that he couldn't re-
SiSt the calling is the major
factor in the success and growth
of Nakina Ugh School.
The school was a result of
consolidating Nakina, Old Dock
and Guideway.
M. NJ. Jones, soft spoken
luict school principal at Nakina
'incc its organization in 1852
takes no credit for the growth
or the cooperative spirit that
prevails among school patrons
Folks in this area are kecnlyI
interested in the school activi-
ties and their interest has been
the key TO success and growth" "
said Jones.
But not to be overlooked in
cvaluating the school standing
in the county is the fact that
Jones has been in the teaching
profession for almost % years
A native of Bladen County he
graduated from Wake Forest
College in 1928. His first teach
ing position was at Western
Carolina Teachers College when
they conducted high school
program. He moved from there
to a two-teachcr Bladen County
school where he served as prin-
cipal. His next stint as principal
was for three years at Smith
High School in Robson County
Then he served as principal for
two years at Kelly High School.
After this variety of expert
.cnccs he dropped out of the
teaching profession and tried his
nand at operating a store in
Robson County near Lumber
ton. Two years of this and he
moved into the role of salesman
Tor International Correspond
ance School. His work required
that he visit schools.
"Everytime ] went into o
school | felt a thrill that. told
me my life belonged to the tea
ching profession" he smiled.
So it was in 1886 that he &C
cepted d teachin" post at Boone
sfo rir Har' County. /, Iq4I
nc moved to Beaverdam School
in Cumberland County. He re-
stunned his role as principal in
1913 when he accepted a post
at Barber Tcn-Milc School in.
Robson County.
Columbus County schools
came into his life in 1913 when.
he accepted the principalShip at.
Old Dock. Four years later, in.
1852. he became principal OF
the newly organized Nakina
High School.
The genial principal is prob
ably the best travelled school
master in the county. He and his.
wife travelled to Europe in 1855
and last year he completed his
vacation ambition of visiting
each of the 40 states.
He is married to the former
Mary Elena Scott of Jackson
vile, N. c. They met while he.
was serving rs principal of Kel-I
~ School. She was a teacher and
even today she serves as a mem.
Der of the Old Dock faculty.
Jones is man who seems to
move unhurriedIy but his pace.
is deceptive. He is bundle of
energy with eyes constantly on
community improvement. He
was one OF the leaders in the
drive to secure telephone Serv-
ice for the Nakina area. AS
chairman he stirred interest
throughout the area and last
July phone service became a re-
atty for the community.
Much of his life has been de-
dicatcd to church work. He is al
member of the Policy Bridge
Baptist Church and has served
since l948 as a deacon of that
group. He served as secretary OF
the General Board of the Baptist
state Convention from 1868
At present he is moderator of
the Dock Baptist Association.
comprised of churches in Bruns-,
wick and Columbus Counties.
He is a member of the Grange
md also belongs to the Lebanon
Masonic Lodge.
While he gives constant credit!
q the people in the community
for the school prosperity they
point with pride TO the man who
is not only school principal but
a friend to all concerned.