Dobbs Elementary School

About Dobbs Elementary School

About Dobbs Elementary

Dobbs Elementary  –  John Wesley Dobbs was born on March 26, 1882, in Marietta, Georgia, to Minnie and Will Dobbs. Growing up in poverty on a farm near Kennesaw, Dobbs faced early hardships when his parents separated just two years after his birth. His mother relocated to Savannah to work for a white family, while Dobbs and his sister were cared for by grandparents and other relatives. Despite the separation, Minnie maintained regular contact with her children, and in 1891, they joined her in Savannah.

Educated at Atlanta Baptist College, later known as Morehouse College, Dobbs embarked on a career as a railway mail clerk for the Post Office in 1903, a role he dedicated 32 years to. In 1906, he married Irene Ophelia Thompson, with whom he had six daughters, all of whom went on to graduate from Spelman College.

Dobbs’ involvement in the Prince Hall Masons began in 1911, eventually leading to his election as Grand Master in 1932, a position he held until his passing. Earned him the moniker “The Grand.” Dobbs utilized his influence within the Masons, alongside his leadership roles in the Atlanta Civic and Political League and later in ANVIL, to advance black voter registration efforts.

In 1936, J. W. Dobbs initiated voter registration drives in Atlanta, where fewer than 600 black individuals were registered to vote. With a determined aim to register 10,000 people, Dobbs firmly believed in the transformative power of the ballot to combat segregation. Over the next decade, several state laws impeding black voters were declared unconstitutional. Surpassing his target, a remarkable 20,000 voters were registered. In fulfillment of Dobbs’ aspirations, Mayor Hartsfield fulfilled his promise: in 1948, eight black police officers were hired, and in 1949, street lights illuminated his cherished Auburn Avenue. Dobbs passed away on the day the Atlanta School System desegregated.

Twelve years later, on August 30, 1961, his grandson, Maynard Jackson, Jr., was elected Atlanta’s first black mayor. Among his final acts as mayor was advocating for the renaming of Houston Street to John Wesley Dobbs Avenue, a tribute to his grandfather. Houston Street was the location of the Dobbs family home where his six daughters were raised. This change symbolized Dobbs’ pivotal role in registering black voters and nurturing black political influence in Atlanta.

Contact Information

Address

2025 Jonesboro Road Atlanta, GA 30315

Website

https://www.atlantapublicschools.us/dobbs

Phone

404-802-8050

Academics

Dobbs Elementary School is served by the Fulton County School System and follows the Georgia State Standards for education, ensuring that students receive a well-rounded education that covers core subjects like Mathematics, English Language Arts, Science, and Social Studies.

Dobbs Elementary School features the following academic programs:

• Gifted & Talented Programs
• STEAM Academy