French Camp's November 13 Historical Highlight speaker, Steinreed Jones, is one of the "Legendary Jones Boys" who came to French Camp in the early 1950's at a time when French Camp was on the verge of closing its doors.
There were 7 brothers from Coxburg, MS whose mother had died of cancer and whose father was a partially blind sharecropper. They lived in a one-room uninsulated hut and had very little money for food or clothes. Five of the boys were taken to French Camp when Steinreed was 11 years old. He, along with 4 of his brothers, Matt, Garnett, Oscar and Lewis, were warmly welcomed and quickly received an outpouring of love, money and clothes. Steinreed said, "After getting accustomed to a full stomach, a comfortable bed, shoes, and clothes, I figured maybe French Camp was heaven. Before I went to FCA, I thought poverty was the way we were supposed to live. We didn't know we were poor."
The Jones brothers helped give Sam Patterson, the President of French Camp at the time, a fresh vision that continues to shape French Camp Academy's ministry to young people from difficult family situations. "Mr. Pat" began taking the boys with him when he spoke to churches and other groups about the ministry of French Camp Academy. Steinreed said, "We were hard evidence that FCA was making a difference in the lives of children in tough circumstances."
December 11 will be a Christmas luncheon and feature music by FCA choir members.
Historical Highlight Luncheons are held the 2nd Tuesday of each month at French Camp Presbyterian Church, featuring a speaker who shares some aspect of French Camp's history and a delicious, home-cooked meal for a $2 donation. The public is invited. RSVP for the luncheon by contacting Mary Nell Coblentz at marynellcoblentz@gmail.com or 803-984-0679.
