HR0483 98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0483 LRB098 12578 GRL 47007 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are saddened to learn of the death of Karen Jones; and

WHEREAS, Karen Jones was born on July 1, 1966; her parents were the late Barbara Ann and Kenneth Jones; and

WHEREAS, Karen Jones graduated from Proviso East High School in 1984; as a role model to her daughter, she enrolled in Benedictine University, where she acquired an associate's degree with honors in 2006; she went on to receive a bachelor's degree in 2008 and a master's degree in leadership in May of 2012; and

WHEREAS, As a teenager, Karen Jones joined Second Baptist Church of Maywood and was baptized under the pastorate of Reverend Wallace Sykes; at the time of her passing, she attended New Life Covenant Church under the pastorate of John Hannah; and

WHEREAS, Karen Jones was employed at Proviso West High School in an administrative capacity for 14 years; she also sponsored and championed the PIP Dance Ministry and wrote and produced several inspirational plays, which always reached the community with messages of hope and redemption through the ministry of dance and drama; and

WHEREAS, Karen Jones founded, supported, sponsored and served numerous organizations, including the Founder of Real Women Ministries, the Beyond Beautiful Young Women's Conference, and the Passion to Praise Production Company; she served as the young women's guidance counselor for the John C. Vaughns Scholarship Fund, a prayer facilitator for the Rock of Ages Foundations of Faith, and a new members facilitator at Victory Cathedral; she was also a member of the Change Community Choir and the James Hamilton Singers; and

WHEREAS, Karen Jones will be missed dearly by her loving daughter, Rebecca Stenson; her sister, Carlotta Renee Plummer; her nephews, Kevin (Tisha) and Kenneth; her great-nieces and great-nephews, Tyrone, Ashlie, Tierra, and Kamaal; her special nieces, Sonja (Chris) and Tracy; her godchildren, Michael Porter and Janae Curry; her aunts and uncles, Frances, Janet, Pat (Solomon), Richard, Shirley (Ken), and Pearl; her many cousins; her father in the faith, Dr. Copeland, and her mentor, Dr. Tanesha Pittman; and her friends, Arenia, Marcia, Laketha, Talonda, Alisa, Wonderlyn, and Shanna; therefore, be it

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

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Karen Jones as an expression of our sympathy.