Mr. Leonard Herndon Jones Sr., age 94, of 2907 Cornell Drive Sanford NC, transitioned into eternal rest on Sunday, February 14, 2021, at Central Carolina Hospital.
On Sunday, February 14th, 2021, Mr. Leonard H. Jones transitioned from labor to reward. He was born on February 27th, 1926 to the Rev. William J. Jones and Mrs. Janie C. Jones in Sanford, the 3rd of four children. After graduating from West Charlotte High School in 1944, he was drafted by the Army serving in WWII from 1944-1946. Upon his discharge he enrolled in the Agricultural & Technical College of North Carolina where he would not only graduate with a B.S. degree in Fine Arts (summa cum laude) in 1951, but he would also meet his future wife. Leonard taught art in junior and senior high schools in Schenectady, NY, but would eventually retire as Professor of Art from Virginia State University, Petersburg, VA. after 21 years in 1991. After retirement they would live in New Mexico for 10 years and then the Joneses would move back to Sanford in 2003 becoming members of the Fair Promise A.M.E. Zion Church.
Mr. Jones was preceded in death by his loving wife of 61 years, Rosemary (Louis), 2 brothers William Jr., and Henry T, sister Costello Hamlin as well as a daughter Costella. He leaves to cherish his memory; son Rev. Leonard, II (Gwenette) of Evington, VA, a nephew James M. Hamlin, Jr. of Newport News, VA, a niece Nadine Butler (Henry) of Champaign-Urbana, Ill., four grandchildren: Leonard, III, Daimon, Leontyne and Vernon Jones, 3 great grandchildren: Vernon Jones, Jr., Jayceon and Gregory Bell, Jr., 2 special friends Wesley and Eugenia Holmes, 2 cousins Electa Person and Alma Turner, a host of other great cousins, nieces, nephews and the very loving church family of Fair Promise A.M.E. Zion church.
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