Jones was born in Jacksonville, and attended Florida A&M University, where she graduated with a degree in accounting in 1991 and then a Master of Business Administration in 1992.

Jones also worked for Duval County Public Schools as the Supervisor of Affirmative Action and the Director of Minority Business Affairs.

In 2008, following the inability of State Representative Terry L. Fields to seek re-election due to term limits, Jones ran to succeed him in the Democratic primary in the 14th District, which included northern Duval County.

She won the nomination of her party uncontested, and in the general election, defeated Libertarian candidate Jonathan Loesche in a landslide, winning 79% of the vote.

While serving in the legislature, Jones ran against State Representative Darryl Rouson of St. Petersburg for the position of Democratic floor leader for the 2014-2016 term.