Lethonia Barnes
About Mayor Barnes
Lethonia Bradley Barnes is the fourth of five children born to Sudie Bradley Moses and the late Edward Bradley. She has been married to the love of her life, John Kirven Barnes, for 35 years, and together they have two children: Brittany Barnes and John Kirven Barnes Jr. They are also proud grandparents to Autumn Christina Lacy, whom Lethonia considers the second love of her life.
Lethonia is a proud graduate of Wilson High School and an alumnus of South Carolina State University, where she majored in business. For 28 years, she owned and operated the largest beauty and barber salon in Florence and managed the first business to launch the downtown revitalization efforts in the area. She also served as an administrator at Florence-Darlington Technical College and Virginia College for a combined total of 21 years as an instructor.
Active in her community, Lethonia has served as an advisor on senior citizens' committees and youth boards, organizing events that benefit the elderly and back-to-school initiatives that provide supplies and meals for students. She has led cleanup efforts to beautify the city. Currently, Lethonia is the pastor of Fletcher Grove Missionary Baptist Church in Laurinburg, NC. She previously served as a Florence City Councilwoman for four years and now holds the position of Mayor of Florence.
Lethonia is involved in several boards and committees, including the Downtown Revitalization Board and the Florence Cosmetology Association, where she previously served as president. She is currently a member of the Chamber of Commerce Board, the Community Redevelopment Committee, the Business Redevelopment Committee, and the Pee Dee Community Action Agency Board.
In her downtime, Lethonia enjoys spending time with family and friends, cooking, and entertaining. Her happiest moments are spent with her granddaughter, nieces, and nephews. As Mayor, she aims to unite all entities in Florence to work collaboratively for a better community. She believes that collaboration is the key to success for the city and that we are stronger together. Above all her experiences and accomplishments, Lethonia is most passionate about creating a premier city with safe, clean communities that enhance the quality of life for all its citizens.
5-Point Crime Plan
Crime is not just a statistic or a news headline; it is a challenge that touches our communities, disrupts our lives, and hinders progress in our city. Addressing this issue is not just about enforcement; it is about prevention, intervention, and collective action.
Introducing Mayor Barnes's 5-Point Crime Plan to reduce crime in the City of Florence:
Bringing back the Community Policing Team (CPT).
Creating incentives for members of the police forces to live inside high-crime neighborhoods.
Utilizing advanced technology to assist in crime prevention.
Bringing back Camp F.E.V.E.R. as "Camp Carraway" in memory of Sergeant Terrence Carraway.
Cracking down with strict enforcement on businesses where criminal activity is occurring with a very high incidence.
