HR1557 94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR1557 LRB094 22131 KXB 60786 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives wish to express their sincere condolences to the family and friends of Leroy Percy Jones, of Waukegan, Illinois, who passed away on July 25, 2006; and

WHEREAS, Leroy Percy Jones was born January 22, 1916 in Blanton, Mississippi, to Benjamin Franklin Jones II and Virginia Jones; he was the youngest of eight children; he accepted Christ at an early age under the ministerial leadership of his grandfather, Benjamin F. Jones I, Pastor of Jones Chapel Methodist Church; and

WHEREAS, He received his early education in Blanton schools; after graduating from high school, he enlisted in the United States Army, where he served in World War II and continued to serve until he received an honorable discharge on February 4, 1946; following his tour in the military he enrolled at Alcorn State University where he received his Bachelor of Science degree; later he received his Master of Science degree from Jackson State University; and

WHEREAS, On September 11, 1948, he married his college sweetheart, Dorothy Rose Caldwell; and

WHEREAS, Leroy Jones held his first teaching job in Leland, Mississippi; there he became a member of St. James Methodist Church and served faithfully until he moved to Arcola, Mississippi due to a job promotion; in Arcola, he joined the local A.M.E church where he served as Sunday School Superintendent; and

WHEREAS, He worked as a school principal in Jonestown, Mississippi, until he retired in 1978; and

WHEREAS, He spent his entire life serving his community; he was a lifetime member of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), where he served as treasurer and secretary; he was a member of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Alcorn Alumni Association, and served on the Board of Director's of the Coahoma County HeadStart program; and

WHEREAS, He was dedicated to the cause of civil rights; he was also a faithful member of Haven United Methodist Church, Clarksdale, Mississippi, for over fifty years, where he served as Sunday School teacher, a member of the finance committee, a class leader, and a member of the Board of Trustees; he later joined Grace United Methodist Church after moving to Memphis, Tennessee to live with his son, and finally Shiloh Baptist Church in Waukegan, where he was a faithful member of the Timothy Sunday School class; and

WHEREAS, After his move to Waukegan he continued his involvement with the NAACP and joined the Waukegan Exchange Club; and

WHEREAS, He was preceded in death by his siblings, Benjamin, William, Inez, and Emma, as well as his wife, Lela Jones; and

WHEREAS, Leroy Percy Jones is survived by his former wife and mother of his children, Dorothy Armsted; his children, Russell (Alice) Jones, Gregory Jones, and Patricia Jones; his three sisters, Beulah Sanifer, Elizabeth Pollard, and Lucille Cunningham; his brother-in- Law, Robert Miles; his sister-and-law, Alberta Jones; his grandchildren, Rushelle Jones-Cyrus (Carlos), Russell Jones II (Asata), Nakia Milot, Marc Jones, and Rushen Jones; his great-grandchildren; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn, along with his family and friends, the passing of Leroy Percy Jones; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Leroy Percy Jones.