The Jones Founders’ Award for Service and Leadership

The Jones Founders’ Award for Service and Leadership has been established by the Coordinating Council of the Alabama Cooperative Baptist Fellowship (Alabama CBF) to honor the memory and extraordinary contributions of Joe and Frances Jones. Their pivotal work in the founding and growth of Alabama CBF helped shape its identity and mission. This award recognizes individuals or groups who embody the same spirit of leadership and service that Joe and Frances faithfully demonstrated.

Joe and Frances were trailblazers long before the formal organization of the Alabama CBF. Their publication,The Baptist Light, was the first medium to provide alternative perspectives in a Baptist climate where much of the news circulated informally and often promoted a singular viewpoint. With its 8-12 pages, The Baptist Light was a breath of fresh air, delivering not only opinion but also reliable reporting based on high journalistic standards. Joe’s experience working in communications at NASA was evident in the publication’s clarity and integrity, as they consistently resisted sensationalism or distortion. The Joneses set a standard of thoughtful discourse that resonated within Alabama and with a wider readership beyond the state’s borders.

As the Alabama CBF evolved, Joe and Frances continued to be key supporters of its leadership. They were among the first to embrace and champion initiatives like Sowing Seeds of Hope, tirelessly informing and empowering our community of churches in Alabama churches toward the broader mission of the Fellowship. Joe often accompanied their home church, First Baptist Church of Huntsville, when they sent mission teams to work in Perry County. Mart Gray, Alabama CBF’s first Coordinator said of Joe and Frances, “For a young leader, their encouragement was invaluable, particularly in the formative years of the Alabama CBF. Their enthusiasm and belief in the potential of the Fellowship inspired many, and their names stand proudly on the founding documents of the Alabama CBF, underscoring their role in this organization’s history.

Beyond their impact on Alabama CBF, Joe and Frances were known as kind, generous, and genuine people—individuals who uplifted those around them with their unwavering support and friendship. Their legacy is one of integrity, service, and love, and it is fitting that this award bears their name, celebrating the values they exemplified throughout their lives.