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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of
3Representatives are saddened to learn of the death of
4Ernestine Jackson, who passed away on September 6, 2023; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Ernestine Jackson was born in Benoit, Mississippi
6to Isaac Sr. and Mary (Washington) Humes on June 23, 1940; she
7married Donald R. Jackson Sr. at the former St. Patrick's
8Catholic Church in Peoria on January 21, 1961; and
 
9    WHEREAS, Ernestine Jackson's career in equal opportunity
10and affirmative action began in the late 1960s at the
11University of Illinois; in Peoria, while civil rights
12activists were in the streets pushing for equal opportunity in
13jobs, housing, and education, she often found herself on the
14other front line inside city hall pushing to end
15discriminatory practices; she served as the first director of
16fair employment and housing for the City of Peoria, assistant
17to the city manager for Champaign, director of diversity for
18CILCO, a personnel officer for the University of Illinois,
19human relations director for Bloomington, and the EEOC
20director for the City of Bloomington; and
 
21    WHEREAS, Ernestine Jackson had worked in her chosen field
22for almost 50 years when she retired from the City of

 

 

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1Bloomington in 2015 at the age of 75; the year she retired, she
2was elected to the board of Peoria District 150, representing
3District 3; and
 
4    WHEREAS, Ernestine Jackson was active in many
5organizations, including the Illinois Municipal Human
6Relations Association, the Illinois Affirmative Action
7Officers Association, and the Colored Ladies Book Club; she
8served as an officer or member of several state and local
9committees of the NAACP; and
 
10    WHEREAS, Ernestine Jackson had a life-long love of
11singing, which led her to join school and church choirs; she
12was a founding member of the Heritage Ensemble; she was a 2023
13honoree of the Peoria Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta's
14annual Sisterhood and Legends Celebration; and
 
15    WHEREAS, Ernestine Jackson was one of the founding members
16of Liberty Church of Peoria; she was most proud of being a
17wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and
18great-great-grandmother; and
 
19    WHEREAS, Ernestine Jackson was preceded in death by her
20parents; her mother-in-law, Kathlyn (Francis) Williams; her
21brother, Robert Humes; and her sister, Geneva Jackson-Grant;
22and
 

 

 

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1    WHEREAS, Ernestine Jackson is survived by her husband of
262 years, Donald R. Jackson Sr.; her sons, Donald Jackson Jr.,
3Dale Jackson (Diane Linda), and Deric Jackson (Hannah Puffer);
4her brothers, Issac (Delores) Humes Jr. and Richard (Gladys)
5Humes; her sisters, Maggie Jenkins and Tracy (Eugene) Gathers;
6her grandchildren, Desirae Jackson (Duane Simmons), Mario
7Jackson, Sofia Jackson, Lewyn Jackson, Tiffany (Dominique)
8Hobbs, and Randy Jackson Jr.; her great-grandchildren,
9Trinity, Leiana, Le'Naya, D'Ahira, Analya, T'Ayla, Delano,
10Serenity, Randy III, Jathan, Kaidyn, and Marie; three
11great-great-grandchildren, Aubriella, Akai, and Angel; and
12numerous nieces, nephews, family, and friends; therefore, be
13it
 
14    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE
15HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
16we mourn the passing of Ernestine Jackson and extend our
17sincere condolences to her family, friends, and all who knew
18and loved her; and be it further
 
19    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
20presented to the family of Ernestine Jackson as an expression
21of our deepest sympathy.