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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to
3learn of the death of Leslie Ann Jones, who passed away on
4April 13, 2020 at the age of 67; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Leslie Jones received her bachelor's degree from
6Yale University and graduated from Harvard Law School; and
 
7    WHEREAS, Leslie Jones was an accomplished lawyer and had an
8expansive legal career, specializing in zoning, federal
9litigation, real estate, and corporate transactions; and
 
10    WHEREAS, Leslie Jones met her husband Thomas E. Johnson
11while they were both providing free legal services to
12impoverished people in the Chicago area through the Legal
13Assistance Foundation; they were then partners at the law firm
14of Johnson, Jones, Snelling, Gilbert & Davis, which her husband
15founded in downtown Chicago; and
 
16    WHEREAS, Leslie Jones was a clinical professor of trial
17practice and ethics at the Northwestern School of Law; and
 
18    WHEREAS, Leslie Jones devoted her free time to the Oak Park
19community, advocating for public art that would be accessible
20to all residents; and
 

 

 

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1    WHEREAS, Leslie Jones was active as both a board member and
2as president of the Oak Park Arts Area Council; while on the
3Council, she championed the work of multicultural artists and
4led the community in drafting a new public arts ordinance that
5was passed by the Village of Oak Park; and
 
6    WHEREAS, Leslie Jones enjoyed many creative pursuits in her
7life, including screen printing, knitting, and weaving; and
 
8    WHEREAS, Leslie Jones was filled with vitality and
9generosity; she had a strong commitment to social justice and a
10drive to help disadvantaged people in all kinds of ways; and
 
11    WHEREAS, Leslie Jones was passionate about finding secure,
12loving homes for children in need; this drove her to join the
13board of the Hephzibah Children's Association as well as to
14welcome numerous foster children into her home; and
 
15    WHEREAS, Leslie Jones was a person filled with compassion
16and generosity; she was known for her wonderful sense of humor
17and for her love for her community; she will be remembered by
18friends and family for all the good she did; and
 
19    WHEREAS, Leslie Jones is survived by her sons, Ben Johnson,
20Charlie Johnson, and Jake Johnson; and her godson, Chris

 

 

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1Hampton; therefore, be it
 
2    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL
3ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of
4Leslie Ann Jones and extend our sincere condolences to her
5family, friends, and all who knew and loved her; and be it
6further
 
7    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
8presented to the family of Leslie Jones as an expression of our
9deepest sympathy.