Myldred E. Jones, 96; Youth Advocate, Civil Rights Activist and Non-Profit Founder
Myldred E. Jones, retired Navy Lt. Commander, Founder of Casa Youth Shelter and other youth-centered non-profit organizations, died June 19, 2006 of complications following a fall.
A resident of Los Alamitos for 38 years and a woman of deep faith, Myldred’s military and humanitarian accomplishments were recognized by the likes of five U.S. Presidents, Generals Colin Powell and Norman Schwarzkopf and Pope John XXIII. She dedicated her life to helping, volunteering and watching out for the needy.
Born in Philadelphia, the second of four children, she earned her BA in Sociology and Social Studies at Wittenberg College in Springfield, Ohio, and did graduate studies at UCLA in Sociology and Public Administration. She was teaching high school at the Frances de Paux School for Mexican Girls when, in 1942, the wartime call to duty led her into the Navy, as part of the first contingent of California WAVES to be called to active duty.
In the days when marriage and motherhood were not allowed for career military women, she served with distinction throughout WWII, the Korean War and the peacetime that followed, rising to the rank of Lt Commander. She was the first female faculty in the Armed Forces Graduate School of Information, Assistant Director, Dept Welfare—Navy Relief Society, and the Naval Liaison to both the United Nations and the American Red Cross.
After her military discharge, she was active in the Civil Rights Movement, marching with Martin Luther King from Selma to Montgomery. She helped desegregate an Episcopal Church near Selma, as well as a military officers’ club. She also joined with Cesar Chavez on his marches for the United Farm Workers.
During an 18-month assignment as Consultant for Youth Affairs for California Governor Ronald Reagan, she recognized the desperate need to shelter runaway and throwaway teens who faced danger on the streets. She participated in the founding of the first Adolescent Hotline, which quickly spread across the nation and is now international. She also founded We Care and Hot Line of Southern California, all non-profit corporations dedicated to youth in crisis.
At the age of 69, when most people are settled into retirement, Myldred sold her home to finance another non-profit corporation, Casa Youth Shelter. Living in a tiny house on a double lot property, she ran and supervised the three bedroom house next door that would shelter up to six youngsters. With little funds, she relied on a backyard garden, the goodness of neighbors, friends and unfaltering faith to feed and clothe the kids that came to her shelter. Her vision and dream of helping children in need became a reality, and the woman who sacrificed marriage and children for service to her country would begin 29 years of accepting, loving and sheltering at-risk youth. She nourished nearly 10,000 children within the walls of her Los Alamitos shelter and furnished more than half a million meals. For many youngsters, Casa was where they learned how typical families live, eating together, sharing the events of the day, and pitching in to do household chores. She would eat with them, listen to their troubles and be the grandmother that most never had. Not a week went by that a past resident didn’t check in to update her on their accomplishments, a new job or a newborn.
Today Casa Youth Shelter thrives as a safe haven for a growing population of at-risk teens. Because of Myldred Jones’ vision and faith, volunteers, donors and friends have helped the shelter grow to include a 2,000 sq. ft. center with rooms for counseling, classes and community outreach programs.
She is survived by her sister, Ruth Baird, niece Linda Anderson and nephew, Richard Baird.
A collection of special remembrances and stories of Myldred will be compiled for a Memorial Lifetime book. To contribute, send email to luciannmaulhardt@casayouthshelter.org
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Your lips are red, your eyes are blue
May your way be lighted for your many deeds
Marge Michael
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