Barbara Joe Ellison Collection

Barbara Joe Jones Ellison was the second African American women police officer of the Houston Police Department. She was born April 14, 1937, to James Elige Jones and Catherine A. Gibson Jones in Freestone County, Texas. She attended schools in Freestone County and graduated in 1953 from Dogan High School of Fairfield, Texas. She went on to Texas Southern University and received a Bachelors Degree in Education in 1957.

Her first job upon graduation was Payroll Administrator at TSU. In 1959, she enrolled in the Houston Police Academy. She graduated from Class # 22 and held the distinction of being the second African American female police officer to serve the city of Houston. In a career that spanned 31 years and 4 mayoral administrations, Barbara worked in the Juvenile Division of the Houston Police Department. She was also a charter member of the Afro American Police Officers League, founded in 1975. She retired from the Houston Police Department after a long and distinguished career in June, 1991. In retirement, she stayed active and kept in touch with colleagues and actively participated in the Retired Police Officers Association until her death on November 17, 2007. She is survived by a daughter, one sister, and a host of friends and relatives.