Dr. Ramona Jackson Jones received the Fred Agel Governance Award at the 2022 GPHA Annual Meeting and Conference. The Fred Agel Governance Award is a Boards of Health Section award to recognize outstanding commitment and service in the promotion of public health.
Dr. Jones was elected to serve as Chairman of the Douglas County Board of Commissioners in 2016, and was re-elected for a second term in 2020. Dr. Jones serves as the first African American Commission Chairman in the history of Douglas County.
She is a native of Memphis, Tennessee, and the daughter of Mattie Howell Jackson and the late Johnnie L. Jackson Jr. Dr. Jones served in the U.S. Army for three years and holds a bachelor’s degree from Southern Illinois University, master’s degree from Chapman University, and a doctorate degree from Argosy University.
Prior to being elected, Dr. Jones worked in the healthcare industry for 40 years of which 31 years involved leadership, strategic planning, policy development, process improvement, multi-million dollar budget oversight, master facility planning, personnel management and operations management in Surgical Services. She has a vast background and knowledge in infection control, sterilization and disinfection principles and practices. Dr. Jones has worked in federal, state, and local government, private, non-profit, and for-profit organizations and listed among Who’s Who registry for elite and extraordinary professionals.
Dr. Jones is a visionary leader and since taking office business owners and colleagues alike have quickly given her well-earned respect. During her first year in office, Dr. Jones’ ventures helped secure $3.3 billion in economic development investments. She added to the pecuniary mix and welcomed a global data center called “Switch” in 2017 to Douglas County which set the mark as the most significant single capital economic development investment in Georgia’s history. Dr. Jones’ call to action encompasses public safety, public health, mental health, economic development, work force development, transportation infrastructure, transparency, beautification, parks and recreation, youth, seniors, and public engagement.
Dr. Jones is a certified County Commissioner. She serves on the Atlanta Regional Commission as Board Officer Secretary/Chairman of Ethics, co-chair of the Senior and Aging Committee and Transportation and Air Quality Board Member. She serves on the National Association of County Officials as sub-committee Vice Chair for the Healthy Communities Steering Committee, Veterans Support Committee, and Public Health Committee. Dr. Jones serves as Board of Director member for Douglasville/Douglas County Water and Sewer Authority, Douglas County Community Services Board, Cobb/Douglas Public Health, and Douglas County Economic Development. She serves as Chair and Vice Chair on numerous Board of Commission legislative committees. Dr. Jones is the extremely proud mother of Shannon Nicole Jones, a Douglas County School System Educator.