Bishop Samuel Jones Jr. was devastated when one point kept him from walking in his high school graduation. But 47 years later, he finally got his moment.
The North Carolina resident, 66, was unable to attend his graduation from Chocowinity High School in 1976 with the rest of his classmates and teachers because his grade in pre-algebra was a single point too low. Jones was not informed of this and only found out when he went to pick up his cap and gown on the day of graduation, he told USA TODAY.
“I never got heads up from any of my teachers, or from anyone (in school) that it was not gonna go in my favor,” he said.
“On the day of graduation, I came to school. And I was very enthused. I wanted to make Mama proud … The night before, I had picked out my suit to wear, shoes and socks everything. Shiny and clean.”
He continued: “I was just so excited. And then I get the message that I was not gonna graduate.”
“It was the worst thing you could have told a kid,” Jones said, adding that when he found out, he ran 2 miles home and locked himself up in his bedroom, crying himself to sleep. “I didn’t tell anybody anything. I was just too hurt and embarrassed. I didn’t know how to say I didn’t make it.”
A diploma with with ‘no real enthusiasm’
Jones’ mother, who worked in the Beaufort County Schools system in North Carolina, later engaged an assistant principal to tutor Jones. After two weeks of practice, Jones retook his pre-algebra test and passed. Though he received his high school diploma then, it was without any fanfare or celebration.
“They called me to the office to get my diploma,” Jones said. “And I felt like somebody just passed me out to lunch room ticket. It had no value to me at that time. I just felt like it was handed to me on the trash can lid. There was no real enthusiasm, no real excitement or a feeling that came along with it.”
“So I took it and I moved on in life,” he said.
Jones went on to join the Navy, serving for nine years, after which he became a pastor and then a bishop.
Despite his life’s successes, the yearning to experience graduation never left Jones, a sentiment he shared with his wife Regina Jones in 2018.
“I don’t think at first she thought it was that deep of a situation. But I just couldn’t hold back the tears every time I talked about that,” he said.
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A surprise graduation ceremony
It was Regina who eventually planned a surprise graduation ceremony for her husband of 43 years.
“I had no idea I was going to graduation,” Jones said. “It was a Saturday and I was just planning on catching up on my sleep but my wife wanted me to come somewhere.”
“She said ‘I’m trying to do something for you, so please cooperate,'” laughed Jones.
On that day, one of Jones’ staff members picked Jones up to take him to the event. He blindfolded Jones before driving him to school, where all his friends and family were gathered. Before he entered, his wife came and put him in a robe, which he thought was a “new church robe.” But once they put the cap on his head, he realized what was happening and was overcome with emotion.
“Oh my God, I’m gonna graduate! I’m gonna really graduate,” he described. “I tried not to cry like a baby, but I could not hold it back.”
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‘A moment that I’ll never forget’
The guest list at Jones’ graduation included his former classmates, friends, members of the community, as well as his colleagues and people Jones has worked and collaborated with over the years.
Jones said he is fortunate to have a wife that would bring the community together to make sure he fulfilled his lifelong dream of a graduation ceremony and that the event gave him closure and started his “healing process.”
“It has been a moment that I’ll never forget. I’m still overwhelmed. Overjoyed. I just can’t believe it happened,” he said.
