Leonia Jones graduates again, decades after first starting at CFCC

Leonia Jones is graduating from Cape Fear Community College with her Associate in Fine Arts in Visual Arts, just one year after earning her Graphic Design degree. A Wilmington native, she’s a wife, a mother of three sons, 16 grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren, and a lifelong learner whose connection to CFCC spans decades.

Jones graduated from Hoggard High School and first attended CFCC in 1996 for Basic Law Enforcement Training, after which she became an auxiliary officer. She completed her associate degree in Criminal Justice in 1999 and went on to build a law enforcement career that culminated in her retirement in 2008.

Even while working, Jones continued her education, earning her bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice from Shaw University. After retiring, she earned a master’s degree in theology. Today, she serves as a chaplain with the Wilmington Police Department and continues her work in ministry as a minister and evangelist. She’s also actively involved in children’s ministry, where she teaches and mentors young people in the community.

In 2017, Jones started a home-based T-shirt business. Wanting to create her own designs, she returned to CFCC to learn the software through short-term classes. When she realized a graphic design degree program was available, she decided to come back as a full-time student.

“Education is good knowledge,” she said. “You’re learning more every day. I tell my family to continue their education. Don’t stop.”

In 2021, Jones was diagnosed with cancer and began undergoing monthly treatments at Duke. Living in Delco, she made the commute to campus, often with her husband driving her during treatment. She kept showing up to class, continuing her work, and moving forward.

“I didn’t let it stop me,” she said. “It was the strength of the Lord that I was able to continue.”

Now graduating again, Jones plans to keep building her business with the skills she developed at CFCC, and she’s not ruling out another return to the classroom.

“I am thankful to all my CFCC instructors whose support, guidance, and encouragement helped me through every step of my journey. Even after I get all the degrees I want here, I’ll probably continue to come back to brush up on knowledge,” she said.