Bright Ma

Growing up in a rural Washington, North Carolina community in 1920, young Bright Ma is excited about her family's first reunion in 30 years. it is at this reunion she will learn of the family's history beginning in West Guinea Africa in the mid 1700's. The family history will tell of the slave trade that brought them to North Carolina, their new life on the plantation, and their journey to freedom on the underground railroad in the greater Washington area. Bright Ma learns of the secret codes her ancestors used to convey messages thru songs, dancing, clothing, food, flowers, bird calls and more and how these things aided their escapes to freedom. She is amazed at the genius and creativity they used as Freedom Seekers. She is asked by the family Elders at the reunion to become a 'Keeper of the stories' she learns about. She is also asked to make sure the family's history is not lost. Bright Ma's stories are shared in a series of books giving the readers opportunity to learn and experience Bright Ma's adventures through local history, cooking lessons, songs, games and crafts. Young and old alike will enjoy Bright Ma's discovery of her family's history and it is hoped will inspire the readers to become 'keepers of the stories' of their own family history.

Growing up in a rural Washington, North Carolina community in 1920, young Bright Ma is excited about her family's first reunion in 30 years. it is at this reunion she will learn of the family's history beginning in West Guinea Africa in the mid 1700's. The family history will tell of the slave trade that brought them to North Carolina, their new life on the plantation, and their journey to freedom on the underground railroad in the greater Washington area. Bright Ma learns of the secret codes her ancestors used to convey messages thru songs, dancing, clothing, food, flowers, bird calls and more and how these things aided their escapes to freedom. She is amazed at the genius and creativity they used as Freedom Seekers. She is asked by the family Elders at the reunion to become a 'Keeper of the stories' she learns about. She is also asked to make sure the family's history is not lost. Bright Ma's stories are shared in a series of books giving the readers opportunity to learn and experience Bright Ma's adventures through local history, cooking lessons, songs, games and crafts. Young and old alike will enjoy Bright Ma's discovery of her family's history and it is hoped will inspire the readers to become 'keepers of the stories' of their own family history.

Leesa P Jones was born and raised in Washington NC and attended Washington City Schools. She attended the City University Of New York with plans to become a Social Worker but fell in love with teaching instead. A teacher for 32 years, Leesa enjoyed watching and helping young people discover the joy learning about themselves, other people and the world they live in. She is the Co-Founder (along with husband Milton Jones and a dear friend Rebecca Clark) of the Washington NC Waterfront Underground Railroad Museum. She serves as Executive Director of the Museum. She has researched Washington's underground railroad history for over ten years. In 2014, She along with The Phoenix Historical Society in Tarboro, NC and Wanda Hunt McLean a Steward for the National Park Service-Underground Railroad-Network To Freedom Program received certification from the National Park Service-Underground Railroad-Network To Freedom designation for the Washington NC Waterfront to become an Network To Freedom Site. A retired teacher, she loves traveling with her family. An avid historian, she developed the Washington NC African American Walking History Tours which features 300 years of African American history in Washington. She is an Ordained Minister. She is married to the love of her life Milton Jones. They have two daughters, Sonja and Terri Michelle, three grandsons, Ricky, Kyle and Jonathan, a godson, Ronnie, two granddaughters Cheyenne and Nadia and a great granddaughter Kylee.