Caroline Robinson Jones, Noted Advertising Pioneer, Dies In New York

Jet, July 23, 2001

A memorial service was recently held to celebrate the life of noted advertising pioneer Caroline Robinson Jones at the Second Baptist Church in Benton Harbor, MI.

Jones, founder of the New York-based Caroline Jones Incorporated, a company specializing in advertising, public relations and special events for international and domestic clients, died in New York at Calvary Hospital after battling cancer. She was 59.

Born in Benton Harbor, Jones founded Caroline Jones Inc. in 1986. Prior to founding her own agency, Jones was executive vice president and creative director of the Mingo-Jones Advertising Agency in New York. As a founder of that company, she brought her experience as vice president and creative group head from Batten, Barton, Durstine and Osborne Inc. (BBDO), where she was the first Black woman ever elected vice president of a major advertising agency.

In addition to Mingo-Jones and BBDO, Jones had been a partner and creative director in the Black Creative Group, senior copywriter at Kenyon & Eckhardt Inc. and vice president and co-creative director at Zebra Associates.

She began her career at the New York offices of J. Walter Thompson, one of the country's oldest, largest and most respected advertising agencies.

Her business and professional affiliations included The Committee of 200, the International Woman's Forum, the Boards of the New York City Partnership, Eureka Communications, the Advertising Council, the Ad Center of Richmond, VA, the NAACP and the National Urban League.

A graduate of the University of Michigan, she earned dual degrees in English and science. Later she established the Caroline Robinson Jones Dean's Merit Scholarship at her alma mater as well as served on the visiting committee for the College of Literature, Science and Arts.

She is survived by a son, Tony R. Jones, six sisters and a brother.