"Lawrence-Clifton-Jones" (November 21 1882-July 13,1975)

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Was the founder and long-time  president  of  Piney Woods County Life Schools in Rankin County Mississippi.A noted educational innovator,he spent his adult life supporting the educational advancement of rural African American students in the segregated South.

Lawrence came from a family of  educators,with an uncle who founded  the Woodstock Manual

Labor Institute in Michigan in 1946.Before he was married to Grace Morris Allen,Grace was the founder of the Grace M.Allen Industrial School for African Americans students in Burlington,Iowa.

After graduating from the University of Iowa in 1908 Lawrence turned down an offer at the prestigious Tuskegee University in Alabama.Instead  opting to teach at the small Utica Institute,

a school  for African American children located in Uticia, Mississippi. While he was there he was recruited  by the congregation of  St.John's Baptist  Church of  D'Lo,Mississippi to found a school.

Laurence came from a family of  educators,with an uncle who founded the Woodstock Manual Labor  Institute in Michigan in 1846.Before he was married to her,his future wife was the founder of the Grace M. Allen Industrial School for African American students in Burlington,Iowa.

After graduating from the University of  Iowa in 1908 he turned down an offer to teach at the prestigious Tuskegee University in Alabama.Instead opting to teach at the small Utica Institute,a

school he was there and rewash recruited  by the congregation of St.John's Baptist Church of 

D'Lo Mississippi to found a school.The efforts of the church to start a school had been initially checked by white residents of the area.