RIP Mr. Jones. You were an incredible teacher and I remember fondly a few conversations we had.  

Thinking about this family. Mr. Jones was one of my favorite teachers in school. He was kind and made learning about history incredibly fun. 

Mr Jones absolutely had an impact on every person he met. He was the classic "hippie" liberal professor yet profoundly considerate of everyone. A "classic liberal" is the truest sense. He was Doonesbury & Whole Earth catalog and I was Bloom County & Ronald Reagan during the mid-80s when I was in his class. As much as we might have disagreed on some issues there was never a moment when anyone felt disagreeable or put off. Indeed he held everyone (and himself) to high standards for themselves and we all learned a great deal - not just about history but about being a good human. Mr. Jones will be greatly missed. I wish his family strength and greatly appreciate their sharing him with us for so long.

-- Ben Scherrey NHS Class of '86

My condolences to the family.  Larry was my friend for almost 60 years, and I always knew him to be a kind and giving person. My old friend even though we seldom saw each other for many years, in the words of Willie Nelson "you were always on my mind".  Your life achievements speak for themselves just as your students speak so highly of you. Rest in peace dear friend.

“I don’t want to know the dates, and people involved, I want to know why the people did what they did in history.”   This simple statement has had such a big impact in my life.  It was a first time a teacher ever told me to think and write critically.  That in history the reasons were more complicated than a simple one bubble answer on a scantron.  
The second half of my high school years was spent sitting on desk in his classroom with boxes upon boxes of  index cards with questions and answers that were  barely legible.  Even though I was never a member of the quiz bowl team he still let me be a part of the excitement and I will always be grateful for a place to belong in high school.  
I have thought over the years the impact Mr Jones had in my life in the very short 24 months of my Junior and Senior year.  And how I was just one of thousands of students he impacted.  He not only impacted me but how I am raising  my children to be critical thinkers, how I have worked with young adults over the years and always start with 
“why”.  
“A teacher affects eternity; he can never tell where his influence stops.” Henry Adams




Larry. Such a kind man who always made conversations interesting. Will miss him. My heart goes out to his family. So sorry for your loss.

The finest history teacher I ever had -college included- has passed away.  Larry Jones taught me what I wasn't being taught.  Larry made sure his students knew that African Americans had been systematically erased from our history texts.  And women, and Hispanics, and Asians.  He showed me what Russia sacrificed in WWII.  How we treated Native Americans.  How the rich and powerful shaped the nation, and how they failed.  He showed me that resistance is never futile, even if it fails.  Images can inspire.  Words can linger in others' minds.  And change will always come.
He taught me history, but he also taught me what had been happening.

I`m so sorry for your loss! Mr. Jones was not only my teacher, but my favorite teacher, my senior year at Northside High School in 1985.

Sincere condolences to Mr. Jones’ family and loved ones. He was such an influence on my high school years (NHS 1991). As a result of his influence, I learned to see the world with open eyes. He helped me begin the journey of recognizing my own bias and ability to influence others. My prayers for your family in this time of grief.  Stephanie (Howard) Stovall

My condolences to the family.  R.I.P.  Mr. Larry Jones

Mr. Jones, I still think of you as one of best teachers of all times. Even with 8 years of college, I still felt lucky to have had you at Darby. 
“The greatest gift is to give people your enlightenment, to share it. It has to be the greatest."
Buddhist saying.
You rocked! 
Sheila Snow 

Mr. Jones taught every class like we were college students. It was the first time it felt like someone was just giving away knowledge for free and it was a privilege to sit and listen. He never emphasized tests or quizzes which seemed like a dream scenario, but it led to genuine curiousity and discussion when he lectured about American history or current politics. For those who didn’t care to partake- “you know you can just write notes, right?” “Just text!” “Please ignore me quieter. Or in the hallway!” 

Quiz bowl was absolutely a different story. There was always an answer to every question. A right one. And one day our team said the right answer and yet it was declared wrong. Mr. Jones, clad in his blue jeans (free from his “monkey suit” of business casual he was forced to wear daily) dropped to his knee beside me on the bench. He quickly shoved a satchel of books he brought just for challenges just like this right to me. As a 10th grader just soaking in the experience of QB, it felt like A Christmas Story and it was finally time to change a tire. Only… the zipper was locked in the fabric, but our five minute challenge timer was ticking away. Mr. Jones saw the trouble and simply whipped out a pocket knife and sawed into his bag to retrieve the book to prove his team correct. 

He didn’t slow his teaching or his drive to get kids to realize we weren’t kids, but capable adults getting ready to be in power. His final act- he completely faked interest in playing guitar for us in the end of the year outdoor bash. When his 15 minute slot came up, Mr. Jones showed up when guitar in hand but instead took the stage and spoke to us about the upcoming 2008 elections. He implored the seniors to recognize their civil rights and vote. He not only taught history but emphasized that it was the past but the present was ours to change. He didn’t play a single note, finished up his lecture and walked off stage. Inevitably to change into his jeans in the bathroom. Freedom!

This truly breaks my heart. Larry  was such a fine 
 example  when coaching my son and he also taught me everything I know about how to coach  Quiz Bowl (especially how to challenge).  I may have stuck with junior high, but his guidance and example has lead my guys to 19 state championships. And I thought of him every time we won. Without fail.

I'm glad to see Mr. Jones' students repeat their social media posts here for his family. See what Mr. Jones fostered? His legacy is the students he enlightened and challenged to think for themselves, including my daughters Whitney and Flannery. Honor Mr. Jones from anywhere you now are (largely, his keen students are out of state), by visibly and actively opposing threats to public schools, censorship and book-banning and official acts of intolerance towards minorities such as immigrants, those under attack for sexual and gender identities and the oppressed everywhere - but especially right here in Arkansas. Thank you, Mr. Jones, for all the seeds of rationality you planted in your students both at Northside High School and in your university teaching roles. Our admiration and respect is eternal. Our condolences to his lovely family. 

He was my favorite teacher at NHS. What a loss for students in Arkansas. You all will be in my thoughts. 

Mr. Jones was my favorite teacher, too. I still think of him saying "L. Jones, number one in grade inflation!" and giving us multiple chances to redo questions during pop quizzes. Mr. Jones was an "easy" teacher in that he didn't much care about grades, but he was absolutely brutal in making sure we understood that so much of American (imperialist) history was bullshit -- blood and guts for no reason.

Like one of my other late great teachers, Mr. Fisher at Darby, Mr. Jones would go out of his way to make sure that we understood the things he was REGULATED to teach were just surface level and required a lot more critical thought than was allotted in our history classes. He stressed that we needed to come to our own conclusions BUT that history was a great indicator of past mistakes and that the victors' recorded history was not always to be trusted. He trusted us to do our own thing, which is rare in high school, where rote memorization and obedience was prized over critical thinking.

I remember one of the most divided classes was when he lectured about the Voting Rights Act (all off the dome, never with notes) and asked if literacy tests were needed. He would slyly play devil's advocate, which worked well given his gentle nature. He said, "But what if people don't know the candidates & don't speak English? Should they be able to vote like anyone else?" The class (a mix of white, Black, Vietnamese, Laotian, Mexican kids) erupted in discussion.

When people would talk amongst themselves about unrelated stuff and ignore his lecture, Mr. Jones would always say "You know you're welcome to just nap in my class, right? Put your head right down on the desk and take a breather" and my personal fav, "TOO MUCH JOY. IGNORE ME MORE QUIETLY." Still makes me laugh!!

He was a brilliant, one of a kind person and we're worse off without him. He personally helped me get through high school and become (somehow) a functional, free-thinking adult. Love to his family.

The best teacher a student ever had  in school and in life.  Rest In Peace, Sir. 

Mr. Jones was by far the most inspiring teacher I’ve ever had. He was the first adult who ever made me feel like they truly cared about what I thought and wanted me to have an opinion. He was so invested in making sure we understood the importance of our voice in the world. I fully believed he helped change the world and make it better. He taught us so much, not just about history, but about what it means to be a good citizen, and a good person. My deepest condolences for his family in their loss, sending you all love and light. 

I’m heartbroken and offer my deepest sympathy. Larry Jones was simple an incredible human being. I have thousands of memories of Mr Jones. I will treasure them always. Thank you for being my teacher, my mentor, and my friend at a time when I needed one the most. 

It’s been over 25 years and I still feel like I let you down. I should have studied harder. I should have been a better leader. We could have won more tournaments together and I could have watched you dance more jigs in the van’s headlights. 

When I hear “name the man” I always whisper to myself  Larry T. Jones. 

I found out about Larry Friday night and deeply regret missing the opportunity to pay my respects.  I have been teaching for 36 years and never met a teacher with a more in-depth knowledge of the broad spectrum of American History than Larry Jones. 
I taught next door to Larry for years and has the chance for many lunchtime and after school conversations.  When discussing anything with Larry one always felt that you mattered. He may not agree with you  or call you out  on your inaccuracies  (especially if you were opposed to any part of the New Deal 🙂), but he always remained friendly and 
respectful.

 Larry was gracious to all but also hilarious 
to hang out with.  One year a few days before Christmas break, Larry walked into my classroom  while I was teaching and placed a wrapped gift on my desk.  It was obviously a bottle of some sort.  As students joked about what Mr Jones might be giving as a gift, I played it off claiming he probably purchased some sort of bath and body lotion.  At the end of the period , I tore part of the wrapping paper off to reveal a top-shelf bottle of scotch!  I immediately hid the bottle in my closet and briskly walked next door to Larry’s room  to ask “WT?!” There was Mr Jones smiling behind his desk inquiring , “Where are the glasses? I thought we needed to make a toast!” 

Larry was a one-of-a-kind man who valued all of us. He knew anger was not the way to resolve problems. He modeled the practice of kindness and gentleness and made me want to do the same. I know it can be said that Larry Jones made this world a better place for me and for all who were blessed to know him. 

Thank you, Mr. Jones for being an awesome and amazing teacher. You will be missed. 

Mr. Jones was not only the best history teacher, he was a great person and kind ear for stressed out teenagers!  I always felt like Mr. Jones would understand my problems and help me work through it and he always did.  He was funny, quirky, smart, and always there for his students.  He was my AP history teacher for two years at Northside from 94 to 95.  I am so sad that his life was cut short at 70.  But he was ever the optimist and he wouldn't want anyone to cry over him passing, but drink a beer in his memory instead! Lol!  I am sorry I never made it back to Northside to say hello again, but I hope in my heart he knew how loved he was by so many students!    I wanted to let you know how much he meant to me as a student as well.  God bless!

OBITUARY

Larry T. Jones

May 8, 1952 – February 2, 2023

Edwards Funeral Home

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