Lumbee Ambassadors 2023
If you would like to invite the Lumbee Ambassadors to your event click this link to complete the Appearance Request Form. For more questions and inquiries, contact Darlene Cummings, Ambassador Coordinator, at dcummings@lumbee.org or 910-522-2142.
Little Miss Lumbee
Moriah Faith Jones
Moriah Faith Jones is the 8-year-old daughter of David and Morgan Hunt Jones. Moriah and her family reside in the Deep Branch community in Lumberton, NC, but she takes deep pride in having roots in Elrod and Saddletree communities. She is an active member of Calvary Way Baptist Church in Pembroke, NC, where she loves singing and participating in youth programs. Moriah is a rising third grader at Dillon Christian School where she is a member of the Headmaster’s Honor Roll and Pep Club Cheerleading Team. Moriah’s favorite subject in school is Reading and she was awarded “Best Science Questions” in her class. Moriah has a passion for Community Service and was awarded the Presidential Award for Volunteerism in 2022. Every year, in memory of Jeremiah Jones, brother to Moriah and Hunter Jones, Moriah, and local youth organize a Teddy Bear Drive that provides comfort for the tiniest patients at UNC Health Southeastern. Moriah says that becoming Little Miss Lumbee is a dream come true. She is so excited to represent the Lumbee people and the LRDA organization throughout the coming year. Moriah plans to make new friends during her travels, learn as much as possible, and share her Lumbee culture with others. This year at Lumbee Homecoming Powwow, Moriah stated proudly, “If you’re having a happy Homecoming, I’m having a happy Homecoming. I want everyone to be happy with Lumbee people because we are strong Lumbee people, and we will ALWAYS be strong Lumbee people” ~ Moriah Faith Jones, Little Miss Lumbee 2023-2024
Junior Miss Lumbee
Riley Madison Dial
Riley Madison Dial is the thirteen-year-old daughter of Stephanie Jacobs and Robert Dial. Riley is the baby of her siblings and has three brothers Seth, Jacy, and Christian as well as a pet Yorkie named Bella. Riley resides in Lumberton and attends church at Elrod Baptist Church. She recently attended Prospect School where she was a cheerleader, played on the soccer team, and was a member of the Beta Club. Riley served as the NC Junior Beta State Secretary and was also the NC Junior Beta Vocalist Champion. She is a rising freshman at Purnell Swett High School where she plans to continue her interest in playing soccer. Riley loves shopping, playing soccer, singing, Starbucks, and Chick-fil-a. Riley takes pride in treating everyone with kindness and looks forward to spreading the message that kindness is one of the best characteristics that anyone can have and that we should all follow the golden rule; “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you”. Riley considers it an honor and privilege to serve her Lumbee people as Junior Miss Lumbee 2023. She looks forward to traveling to our great state and nation to educate others about our culture and heritage.
Teen Miss Lumbee
Kennedy Grace Jones
“I will establish my covenant as an everlasting covenant between me and you and your descendants after you for the generations to come, to be your God and the God of your descendants after you. Genesis 17:7”
Kennedy Jones is the 16-year-old daughter of Channing and Emily Jones. She is a rising junior at the North Carolina School of Science and Math on the Durham Campus. Kennedy is a member of the National Honors Society. She served as President of the Ambassadors Club at Freedom Christian Academy and was the youngest student to serve as the leader of the Freedom Christian Academy’s Praise and Worship Team. She is also a member of CrossWay Church.
Kennedy’s plans are to attend the University of North Carolina at Pembroke and obtain a biology/pre-med degree. She hopes to be accepted into the Early Assurance program at UNCP, which guarantees acceptance into East Carolina’s Brody School of Medicine. She plans to obtain a doctorate in dermatology and become a pediatric dermatologist.
Following in the footsteps of her Great Grandfather, Chancellor English Jones, the first Native American Chancellor of the University of North Carolina at Pembroke, Kennedy believes in the power of higher education and understands that Native American youth deserve support and resources to pursue higher education, specifically in the areas of STEM. As Teen Miss Lumbee, her platform, Paving the Way: A Legacy of Higher Education, will support Native American youth pursuing higher education and STEM careers.
Kennedy holds to the truth that life-long learning and the pursuit of education encourage all people to go beyond their limits, grant us opportunities, and give us faith to grow like the mustard seed. She also believes that education gives us the confidence to shout at any barriers we face and say MOVE, and they will move, and nothing will be impossible.
Kennedy is honored to serve as Teen Miss Lumbee 2023 and to continue upholding the values and traditions of the Lumbee people. Her goal is to continue the legacy created by generations of strong, resilient Lumbee leaders and trailblazers and to instill the belief in everyone she meets that we are strong and we are the generation to make a change!
Miss Lumbee
Ashtyn Skye Thomas
Ashtyn is the 18 year old daughter of Aaron and Azalea Thomas of Pembroke, North Carolina. She is a freshman at North Carolina State University majoring in Architecture. Ashtyn is very passionate about the arts and is committed to keeping culture alive through sharing the practices of the Lumbee Pinecone Patchwork, beadwork, painting, sketching and sewing. Ashtyn is very passionate about representing her Lumbee people as she is a former Junior Miss Lumbee. In her spare time, she loves to spend time with her family and friends, try new recipes at home, and learn about Lumbee history. She is also proud of her small makeup artistry business, Glam By Ashtyn and loves her job because she is able to empower other women to feel confident. As Miss Lumbee, Ashtyn will advocate her platform R.I.S.E. (Resilient and Intelligent young women Supporting Empowerment). The goal of R.I.S.E. is to encourage young women and instill confidence as they strive to close the gender gap in fields such as S.T.E.M. where women are not traditionally seen as leaders. Her plan is to partner with Project IndigeCHOICE and Project 3C to provide adequate resources for young women to feel included, prepared and comfortable in any field of study. Ashtyn is honored to serve as Miss Lumbee 2023 and will be proud to represent her beautiful people in Pembroke, at NC State, and the various locations across the nation this title may lead her.