Check Out Melonie “Renee” Jones’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Melonie “Renee” Jones.

Hi Melonie “Renee”, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
First off, thank you for what you do and for allowing people like me to share our stories. I’d like to begin with a quote. “Success is a journey, not a destination.” – (Unknown) It’s growing into your greater self and seeing more of what’s in you as you pursue and live life. – Melonie “Renee” Jones.

I was born in Elkhart, Indiana with my twin sister Myrna “Faye” Hughes, to my amazing mother, Mary Hill, who transitioned in 2015, and father, Robert Smith, who transitioned in 2017. As much as I can remember, as a child we moved several times, living with family members, and my mother’s eldest brother convinced her to relocate to Miami, Florida where we then moved to Ft. Lauderdale, Florida which is where my mother began her career as a correctional officer. I grew up in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. As a young girl, I always wanted to be a teacher, but for some reason, I didn’t like school, or maybe it was just the system. Nevertheless, I ended up in the music industry, singing and writing songs. My twin sister and I had a music group called CLA – Classy Ladies Always which lasted for a couple of years. Then I started singing in the church choir and on the praise team.

In our house, my mother made us attend church, it didn’t matter what we did, we had to go to church. Growing up I remember I was in my 20’s and I said to my mother, “When I get 21, I’m not going to church anymore!” That was so funny because GOD had other plans. When I turned 21, I married a pastor and businessman that taught me about having a relationship vs. religion with GOD.

I really had other plans for my life, but I am now seeing GOD had a greater one, even through life’s ups and downs in that relationship and being a pastor’s wife at a young age, I experienced a lot of pain which really made me who I am today. So I love to inspire people and tell them, “Life isn’t breaking you, it’s making you.”

I am so grateful for what I experienced and it opened my eyes to truly see who GOD is and how much HE loves us unconditionally. For the sake of time, my husband and I were married twice and divorced twice. (That’s a few books in the making!) However, we never truly separated in our rocky relationship. He later remarried, and we were still friends. He transitioned in 2021, and he had so much in him that reminded me that people leave this earth and take their gifts and talents with them. So I want to encourage people to please look within. Everything you need has been planted on the inside of you, water it every day, trim it, keep out the insects that eat away at your fruit, and watch it grow into a beautiful life. Stick with GOD and HE will give you the increase.

I felt and knew my daughters and I needed a new start, so we relocated to Atlanta in 2017. We wanted to pursue our dreams in the music industry. I am a Momager to my three beautiful daughters who are amazingly talented. We are still on that journey and I will be sharing more in my books. I’m excited that I have co-authored and launched a youth book series called “UNIT 3 – Born Without Limits” with my youngest daughter, Monet, who is the book’s illustrator. *Photo attached.* We are also in partnership with the APEX Museum on Auburn Avenue where our books, merchandise, and jewelry are on display and consignment. I’m happy to say I’m still on my path to greatness and I love to help others along the way.

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
Wow, it has totally been a rocky road after my mother passed away in 2015 when we were still in Florida. I was headed home from work and I was hit by a mack truck. Now that was a real shake up! But I remember one of the firefighters that was on the scene came to me and said, “Listen, I don’t know who you are, but you are blessed.” I was one lane away from the bridge over a busy highway, but when GOD says “NO, not yet”, that means we still have HIS mission to accomplish. So I ran from my purpose for a long time by not sharing my story, but today I stand with grace ready to hopefully change someone’s direction in life. Because it’s so easy to give up, but there really is so much to living. That’s another book.

Life has been pretty challenging and I have so many stories of challenges and victories, but not being able to go to my mother when I needed direction or just to talk to has been the hardest for me because we were so close. But GOD has been there. I’m so in tune and in love with my relationship with HIM knowing that trials don’t come to only make you strong, but to show you who’s been with you all along. So many people are going through today, but when you realize that you are not here on earth alone, it really gives you a new outlook on life.

Nevertheless, I’m grateful that I’m healing, I have grown, and I have learned so much in the process. I’m now using what I’ve gone through to create, write books, and build my business officially known as Pretty On Purpose Consulting, LLC.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I love helping other people excel. I believe that’s what hope is. It gives me life when I can help or assist others. That’s my purpose. I’m now a licensed life coach and also a licensed minister. I was afraid to walk in my calling, but I’m so proud today to be able to work alongside Dan Moore Sr., and Dan Moore, Jr. as the event coordinator of the Historical APEX Museum on Auburn Avenue in Atlanta, Georgia. The Bible says your gifts make room for you and bring you before great men. I’m so happy and humbled to be part of the APEX family. I’m learning so much about the greatness of our history, and it really makes me proud of who I am as an African American because I am both. I’m also blessed to sit with Dan Moore Sr. who shares so much wisdom that has pushed me into my purpose. He shows how much he values us as a people, showing us who we truly are.

I remember Dan Moore Sr. asked me a question that no one has ever asked me before. He said, “Melonie, if you had all the money in the world and could go anywhere in the world when you wake up tomorrow morning, what would you do and where would you go?” Without a blink of an eye, I told him Africa. “I would go to Africa.” He smiled at me, we both laughed, and he shared with me more wisdom. I’m proud to be in the presence of such a great man. It has given me the courage to step up and answer my calling in life while helping others do the same. What sets me apart from others? I know that I’m uniquely and wonderfully made. I can also be consistent in this path because I know who’s with me. I specialize in helping people become who they were created to be through organizing and hosting events through my consulting business, books, and journals.

My latest book called, ‘Everything You Want Is On The Other Side of Fear’, is launching this month and we are planning to host a brunch with Marilyn Pearlman of Cause Media Marketing & PR, LLC. She is also on our PR team and we are also publishing and illustrating her first children’s book which will be launching in the next few days.

I am proud to say I’m grateful for where I am now. Connecting and growing with the right people is priceless and that’s what I’m most proud of, and for the fact that I didn’t quit or give up. I’m still on the right path and I’m enjoying and learning patience on those bad days that we don’t like to talk about, but it’s all a part of the process.

Who else deserves credit in your story?
Wow! So many people have been on this journey with myself and my daughters. I’m so thankful for those that didn’t help and those that said no. It may sound crazy, but they played a major part.

Of course, family, who’s been there through the good, bad, ugly and devastating times. There are so many people that would always encourage me not to give up, way to many to name. But I must say GOD without a doubt, my three beautiful daughters, Macy, Mariah, and Monet. My sisters, nieces, and the APEX Family all play a part of the strength that keeps me going and growing today. I still have so much to contribute because I’m just getting started. We all need people like them. I am still on this journey and there’s so much more to come.

Remember, success is a journey not a destination, and I’m blessed to have them all riding with me.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.prettyonpurposeshop.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/prettyonpurposeshop_
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/prettyonpurposeconsulting