Leo was born on July 1, 1975 to Leo (Junior) and Bonnie Ness. He was born in Baltimore, Maryland and then relocated to Robbins, NC with his parents. He is the oldest of four, his three brothers are, John, Jacob, and Joshua Ness.
JJ graduated from North Moore High School in 1993 and entered the Marine Corp in August. His son Austin Nevada Collins was born May 5, 1994 (Esther Collins).
JJ was briefly married while he was in the Marine Corp and this marriage ended in divorce. While in the Marines he worked as a field radio operator and spent a year or so in Japan. He came back to the US and was stationed in Jacksonville until he received his Honorable Discharge.
In 1997 JJ took a job with the NC DOC. This is where we met!!
We got married on May 15, 1999 in Biscoe, NC at the church JJ attended with his family. Austin and Hunter were 31/2 and 5! They had a front row seat for the big event as did Lauren because she was in my belly! We went to Carolina Beach for our quick Honeymoon because working for the DOC you didn't get a whole lot of time off! I remember stopping in Fayetteville on the way down for a dinner that consisted of sub sandwiches.
Lauren Katie Ness was born on August 23, 1999. She came in to this world and the first person she saw after the doctor was her Daddy! The two of them are identical right down to their butts! I told Lauren the other day you don't have a "ghetto booty" you have a "Leo booty"! When they are sleeping soundly their top lips turn back. It is the sweetest thing! She is my "Little Leo"