a legacy of commitment and community

In 1964, Nathaniel Frederick Jones, known to friends and loved ones as “Chilly,” was a hardworking owner of a service station in northeast Winston-Salem, North Carolina. One of the first African Americans to own a gas station in the state, he was dedicated and ambitious. And he was frustrated.

This was the year the Civil Rights Act was passed, and while it was a substantial step toward racial equality, people of color still faced hurdles in their daily and professional lives. Though he already operated a service station, Jones felt that to truly own his business, he needed to also own the land it stood on, rather than rent it from someone else.

Later that year, another station became available, and Jones bought it, along with the land it was on. The new station would become Jones Chevron—and it became a cornerstone of the community. Jones would own it for 38 years, until his death.

Future generations of Jones’ family were inspired by his drive to succeed. Among them were his grandsons CJ and Chris.

“It wasn’t until recently that I found that he was 23 years old when he pursued his first gas station, and it blew my mind,” Chris said.

NBA All-Star Chris Paul remembers his grandfather’s ambition and work ethic.

Chris started helping out at his grandfather’s Chevron station in the 1990s, when he was six years old. Even back then, Papa Chilly created a tangible feeling of community. The place was a business, a classroom and a gathering place rolled into one.

“The thing we learned really was we have to do the work,” older brother CJ said. “No matter if you own something or you work for somebody, you actually have to put in the work.”

Papa Chilly’s days started early, before 7 a.m. During summer breaks, CJ and Chris started their days with their grandfather and a strong, sugary cup of coffee. Then it was off to work, with all the smells, sounds and sights that made up life in Papa Chilly’s world.

The radio played constantly while a stream of cars pulled in and out of the station. Chris and CJ darted all over the place—faces sticky from grape soda bought at the vending machines—wiping windshields, topping off gas tanks and greeting customers.

“Everybody came by there. We would pump the gas, but the driver would get out of the car and have a conversation with my granddad. He knew everybody, and everybody knew him,” CJ said.

CJ Paul remembers Jones Chevron as a place that everyone in the community loved.

As the train of cars and the clanking of tools died down, about an hour or two before closing every day, a group of mostly older, retired gentlemen would make their way to Jones Chevron.

These neighbors and friends would gather around two old, brown bus seats welded to the ground in front of the station. There, they would pass the time drinking coffee, smoking, laughing, sharing stories and telling jokes—some of them even clean. Chris and CJ were all ears, eager to hear what the men were talking about.

And while taking all this in, Chris picked up a valuable lesson.

“At an early age, I really learned the importance of community,” Chris said. “I know how important it is to be comfortable and relaxed, and to be able to be vulnerable and talk and laugh. And that’s what happened at the service station. It was a group of guys. But you knew that the service station was their safe haven.”

Chris Paul remembers Papa Chilly’s service station as an important part of the community.

Papa Chilly’s grandson Chris would grow up to be an NBA point guard, NBA All-Star and two-time Olympic gold medalist. In 2022, he was honored as a member of the NBA’s 75th Anniversary Team, the league’s list of its 75 greatest players. Chris Paul credits his work ethic and philanthropy, in part, to the time he spent with his grandfather at Jones Chevron.

“As a kid, you’re not always paying attention to every little detail,” he said. “But you’re very impressionable. So I watched the way my grandfather interacted with people. I watched the way he was with his employees and with the customers. And there was a huge accountability with that.”

Chris says he is proud of his deep connection to Jones Chevron, and that pride is shown in many ways. There’s the visual—a chevron tattooed on his left forearm and the chevron patterns on his signature shoes. He also created the Chris Paul Family Foundation, which works to make a positive difference in the lives of people and communities. It’s a way to pay forward lessons he learned with his grandfather at Jones Chevron.

Chris Paul explains his connection to Chevron, the importance of his leadership program, Club 61, and how both lead back to Nathaniel Jones.

Though Papa Chilly was tragically killed in 2002, Chris and his family continue to share his legacy through Club 61, a leadership program started in 2019 by the Chris Paul Family Foundation.

The program’s purpose is to help shape tomorrow’s leaders. It provides opportunities for kids to learn skills ranging from networking to financial literacy to civic responsibility. For Chris, the program—and its logo, which is blue and has a chevron pattern—is all about honoring his grandfather.

“It’s just very meaningful because any time I see it, it basically makes me think of my grandfather. I’ve always wanted to be able to honor him, and Club 61 just seems so perfect,” Chris said.

Papa Chilly was an important part of a tight-knit community.

Papa Chilly gave the community someone to look up to. His station was as much a community center as it was a business. And Jones Chevron remained a fixture in northeast Winston-Salem for nearly 40 years.

Today, Chris is ensuring that the legacy of Papa Chilly lives on.

“It was all the things that were instilled in me at the gas station that got me to my dream of being an NBA player,” Chris said. “I wanted to be able to show and teach these kids all these different things that could hopefully inspire them to be whoever they want to be.”

Chevron is proud to be part of Papa Chilly’s inspiring story.