Portsmouth, Virginia (January 5, 1869- June 24, 1933) age 65 yrs

Sissieretta Jones, born Matilda Joyner, was a world-famous soprano. In June 1892, she became the first African American to sing at Carnegie Hall in New York City. According to writer James Weldon Johnson, “she had most of the qualities essential in a great singer. She had the natural voice and the physical figure. She also possessed the grand wit and the engaging personality.” Besides the United States and West Indies, Jones toured in South America, Australia, India, southern Africa, and Europe. She was the highest paid performer of her time.