by Justin Ganderson

Annias Jones was an African American born on December 7, 1894 in the town of Burseville, Princes George County, Virginia to Lyda Gray of Hampton VA and Joe Jones. Annias professed a Baptist faith. Jones had no formal education throughout his life. Annias Jones met Catherine Epes, of Suffolk, VA and they married at Wilson, Virginia in 1913. They produced no children from this union. Although a United States citizen, Jones was not a registered voter. Prior to his enlistment, Jones worked as a laborer at the Chesapeake Knitting Mills located in Virginia. Jones resided at 410 Stafford Street, (Berkley), Norfolk. VA.

Annias was enlisted into the National Army of the United States at Berkley near Norfolk County Virginia on July 30, 1917 as a private. He would initially be matriculated into Company 14, 16th Regiment, of the 4th Division, commonly known as the “Ivy Division.” The 4th Division was originally formed at Camp Green, North Carolina where it would see battle in France during World War One. The 4th Division was the only combat Division to have served with the French, British as well as American sectors during the war.

Jones would later receive two months of basic training at Fort Mead, Maryland and Camp Dix, New Jersey. He would finally be transferred back to the 4th Division and his original regiment and company. During the war he worked in the stables, caring for the Army’s horse teams. After the war, Jones would later be discharged on December 14, 1918, 7 days after his 24th birthday, at Camp Mead, Maryland as a private.

Jones eventually returned to Berkley (Norfolk), Virginia where he took-up residence at 903 Carroll Street and continued as a laborer for the railroad. Jones would die of oral hemorrhage at the age of 52, on November 22, 1949. At the time of his death, Jones lived at 1111 Middlesex St., Norfolk, VA while still married to Catherine Jones. Annias Jones is interred at the Mt. Olive Cemetery in Norfolk, VA.

Source:

“Virginia, Death Certificates, 1912-1987,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C95D-H91H-Z?cc=2377565 : 20 August 2018), > image 1 of 1; from “Virginia, Marriage Records, 1700-1850,” database and images, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : 2012); citing Virginia Department of Health, Richmond.

24th Infantry Division Association, (http://24thinfassoc.org)/sc:/7938475/4:2:history: 57986, image 787,1of1