Born the fourth of five children to Sudie Bradley Moses and the late Edward Bradley, Lethonia Bradley Barnes has dedicated her life to service, leadership, faith, and community empowerment. She has been married for 37 years to the love of her life, John Kirven Barnes, and together they have built a strong family foundation with two children and one beloved granddaughter.
A proud graduate of Wilson High School, Lethonia continued her education at South Carolina State University, where she majored in Business Management. Her professional journey reflects both entrepreneurial spirit and a passion for education. She successfully owned and operated a business for 28 years, served as an administrator for nine years at Florence-Darlington Technical College and Virginia College, and dedicated 21 years as an instructor, helping shape and inspire future generations.
Deeply rooted in faith and community service, Pastor Barnes has always been actively involved in church and civic life. She has served as an advisor on senior citizen committees and youth boards, while organizing events focused on serving the elderly and feeding the community. Her life’s work reflects her commitment to compassion, outreach, and uplifting others.
Today, Pastor Barnes serves as the Pastor of Fletcher Grove Missionary Baptist Church for 8 years, where her ministry centers on loving like Christ and living a life that allows God to use her for His purpose. Guided by her favorite scripture, Proverbs 23:7 “As a man thinks in his heart, so is he,” she believes that faith, vision, and mindset shape both character and destiny.
In public service, Lethonia previously served four years as a Florence City Councilwoman and now proudly serves as Mayor of Florence. As Mayor, she is passionate about creating a premier city with safe, clean communities that enhance the quality of life for every citizen. She believes collaboration is the key to Florence’s future success and is committed to bringing all entities together in unity for the betterment of the city.
Mayor Barnes also serves on numerous boards and committees, including the Downtown Revitalization Board, Chamber of Commerce Board, Community Redevelopment Committee, Business Redevelopment Committee, and the Pee Dee Community Action Agency Board.
Despite her many accomplishments, Lethonia’s greatest joy comes from spending time with family and friends. She loves cooking, entertaining, laughing, and sharing meals with loved ones. Her happiest moments are spent with her granddaughter, nieces, and nephews, the people who keep her grounded, inspired, and full of joy.
Whether serving as Pastor, Mayor, mentor, educator, or community leader, Lethonia Bradley Barnes remains committed to faith, family, unity, and service, believing wholeheartedly that we are always stronger together.
City Council Committees:
- Chair of the Community Development Committee.
- Member of the Business Development Committee.
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.