Uncrowned Community Builders

The Muse of History records immortal queens as leaders. There are those who lead ostentatiously and boldly and those who lead subtly, quietly, and discreetly while helping to mold a strong future for an appreciative people, a fortunate spouse, and aspiring heirs. Carlita Murphy Jones must be remembered in the latter category of uncrowned queens.

Mrs. Jones, a native of Baltimore, Maryland graduated with honors from Dunbar Junior High School in 1936. She graduated from Douglass High School in 1938. In 1942, she graduated with a degree in Journalism from the University of Wisconsin, Madison.

Mrs. Jones met her future husband, Leeland N. Jones, Jr. in 1942. He was a star quarterback on the University of Buffalo football team. The team went to Baltimore to play the Johns Hopkins University. Leeland was not allowed to stay in a Baltimore downtown hotel because of his race, so journalists brought him to the Morgan Park home of Carl Murphy, Carlita's father, who was the publisher of the Afro American Newspapers. Leeland went off to Officer's Training School during World War II and their romance blossomed. They were married on May 5, 1945 at St. James Episcopal Church in Baltimore. They were married for over 62 years.

Before her marriage and move to Buffalo, Mrs. Jones worked as a Copy Editor on the family owned Afro American newspapers. These newspapers were started by her grandfather John H. Murphy Sr. in 1892. In later years she was a major stockholder and co-trustee of her father's estate. Her feature stories about her parents and their various sayings are precious gems which appeared in the Buffalo Criterion Newspaper from time to time.

Mrs. Jones was a life member of the NAACP since 1941, a diamond life member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. This is the sorority of which her mother, Vashti Turley Murphy was one of the 22 co-founders. She was a member of the Links, Inc. and a former member of Jack and Jill of America, Inc. She was a wife, an associate of the following organizations: the University at Buffalo Council, AAA of Western and Central New York, the Erie County Board of Supervisors, the Buffalo Common Council and the AME Pastor's Wives. Her husband, the Rev. Leeland N. Jones Jr. was the first Black Buffalo City Council Member and an Associate Pastor of Bethel AME Church in Buffalo.

Mrs. Jones was a competitive bridge and pinochle player. She took great delight in winning and when she did her beautiful laughter could be heard around the room. She also loved the color blue and one of her last parties was a Blue Party held right after she entered Hospice. At the party, the tablecloth, napkins, plates and wine glasses were all blue surrounded by blue flowers sent by family and friends.

Mrs. Jones had four sisters, one of whom Vashti Murphy Matthews was her twin. Mrs. Matthews was one of the nation's WACS of World War II. Her other sisters were Elizabeth Phillips Moss, Ida Murphy Smith Peters and Frances L. Murphy Campbell, whose biography is on this site. The Reverend and Mrs. Jones have three children: Dr. Leeland AM Jones, Sr. M.D.; Atty. Johnaaron M. Jones, Esquire; and Mrs. Carlita CMJ Perkins, Sr. Executive Vice President, Success Results Consulting, Inc. in Germantown, Maryland.

Mrs. Jones is interred at Forest Lawn Cemetery.