Warren Ray Jones

A lifelong resident of Edgecombe County, Warren Ray Jones was educated by Edgecombe County schools and graduated from Conetoe High School in 1957. He spent six years in the army before graduating from Shaw University and attending graduate school at North Carolina A&T University. Mr. Jones brought his training and talent home and coached in area schools. A lifetime member of the NC Coaches Association, he coached basketball for 30 years and took his teams to six conference tournament championships, and 14 consecutive years to the state playoffs. His overall record was 491 wins and 291 losses. In 1994 he was the assistant coach of the North Carolina High School Association East-West All Star Basketball Game. He was honored as Coach of the Year four times. Jones taught in Pitt County for two years before returning home to Edgecombe County in 1970 where he worked with students for the next 36 years before retiring in 2006. In addition to teaching and coaching, Jones also mentored many young men in the North Edgecombe community. One of his former students, Edgecombe County Commissioner Viola Harris, said of Jones, “He gave to us everything he had – his heart, his home, and commitment to education. He never let a child go home without knowing he was special.” Jones and his wife opened their home to the many students who needed a place to go or someone to talk to. Thousands of young people walked through his gym and his home and learned about life as well as basketball. Another student said, “His lessons on the basketball court inspired many young men to become productive members of society.” He received the Outstanding Education Award from the Center for Educational Achievement in 2006-2007 and the North Edgecombe Gym has been named in his honor. He was also active in the Batts Chapel Missionary Baptist Church and performed with the Tarboro Jubilee Singers and the Batts Chapel Trio.

Inducted into Hall of Fame 2010
Deceased