Bennett-Jones, Valerie

In 2007, Valerie Bennett-Jones became the first African American officer of the VFW Ladies Auxiliary 2734 in Maysville, KY. She accepted the position of patriotic instructor and historian. She was also appointed as a citizen member of the Maysville Buffalo Trace Area Development District (BTADD) Board on January 14, 2016.

Bennett-Jones is one of the few African American members of the organization; the VFW Ladies Auxiliary 2734 has not always allowed African American membership.

Issac Jones, a veteran of World War II and Vietnam, encouraged his wife to join the VFW. Valerie and Isaac Jones are also collectors of African American memorabilia. Isaac Jones died at age 91 on March 15, 2021. (See his obituary in the Ledger Independent.)

For more see M. Maynard, "Bennett-Jones becomes new instructor, historian at VFW," Ledger Independent, 7/2/2007; and "Family collection records African American life," Ledger Independent, 9/14/2019.