Dedicated on November 29, 1936, this building educated students in grades 1 through 11 until the 12th grade was added in 1950, and it served as a school until 1991. At the time, it was one of the most modern school buildings in the state. It cost approximately $30,000, with the county assuming 55% and the federal government 45%. Ellamae Ellis League of Macon, the first licensed woman architect in Georgia, designed the building, and Stillwell Construction Company of Macon was the contractor. The building committee included W. E. Knox, chairman and school superintendent; M.J. Wood, D.V. Childs, and George B. Slocumb of the board of education; and J.A. Burnette of the county commissioners. After sitting vacant for a few years, the building housed the Jones County Chamber of Commerce in May 1999. On November 17, 2007, it was dedicated as the W.E. Knox Civic Center in memory of the school superintendent who had served as chairman of construction. Knox was a civic leader involved in the Kiwanis Club, the Masons, and Gray United Methodist Church, was involved in several businesses, and served as the Mayor of Gray.