Son recalls father's legacy

Feb. 10—LENOIR — A Caldwell County native remembers his father's accomplishments as the first Black chief of police in Ellerbe during Black History Month.

Ty Jones was born and raised in Lenoir and attended West Caldwell High School. His father, Philip Lee "Phil" Jones, was the first Black police officer and the first Black chief of police in the history of Richmond County.

According to an article from Ellerbe's Daily Journal, Philip was a native of Statesville. After graduating from Morningside High School in that city, he worked as a truck driver and short-order cook until he became old enough to apply for a law enforcement job.

He served for five years with Statesville police, then at the request of Ellerbe Police Chief John Martin, who had patrolled with him in Statesville, Philip moved to Ellerbe. After the former chief and the town's other patrolman both resigned, Philip was appointed acting police chief by Ellerbe's town council.

For a time, Jones was the only member of the town's police force for an entire month. He worked double shifts in order to train all the new police officers.

The article stated that Philip did not have any real problems in Ellerbe, but he admitted that "some white citizens seem to notice his Black face before his blue uniform." He also encountered some resistance from white people who were especially opposed to being arrested by a Black man.

Philip is quoted as saying, "Color doesn't matter to me. I mean to help Whites just as much as I help Blacks."

Ty said that his father was well respected as a police officer and chief in Ellerbe, and he carried that respect into everything he accomplished in Caldwell County.

Ty has three brothers and two sisters. When he was born, the family moved to Lenoir. His father retired from law enforcement and started working at the Lenoir Housing Authority as a director over several departments. He later became a preacher, and then he operated Jones BBQ and sold barbecue to the community. His food was even featured during a festival in downtown Lenoir.

Sadly, Philip died in 1999, at the age of 50 due to complications with diabetes. Ty was just 17 years old.

"I grew up watching him and the history of his image, living as the man that I wanted to be when I got older," he said. "I loved having him as my father, and I try to do everything I can to be like him."

Ty remembers his father as a great man who taught him many important life lessons.

"He taught me how to cook, first of all," Ty said with a wide smile. "I've been doing that all my life. I would do the barbecue on the weekends, work at Bojangles and go to school during the week. He taught me how to live life and how, if you want respect, you've got to earn it. That's how I live my life now."