SR0461LRB103 34228 LAW 64053 r

1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened
3to learn of the death of Ernestine Jackson, who passed away on
4September 6, 2023; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Ernestine Jackson was born to Isaac Humes Sr. and
6Mary (Washington) Humes in Benoit, Mississippi on June 23,
71940; she married Donald R. Jackson Sr. at the former St.
8Patrick's Catholic Church in Peoria on January 21, 1961; and
 
9    WHEREAS, Ernestine Jackson was a force for equal
10opportunity throughout Central Illinois for almost 50 years,
11beginning her career in equal opportunity and affirmative
12action at the University of Illinois in the late 1960s; while
13civil rights activists were in the streets of Peoria, pushing
14for equal opportunity in jobs, housing, and education, she
15often found herself inside city hall, pushing to end
16discriminatory practices; she was the first director of fair
17employment and housing for the City of Peoria, assistant to
18the city manager for Champaign, director of diversity for
19CILCO, a personnel officer for the University of Illinois, and
20human relations director for Bloomington; she last served as
21the EEOC director for the City of Bloomington, retiring in
222015 at the age of 75; though her job titles changed from city
23to city, her duties were always similar; her work meant

 

 

SR0461- 2 -LRB103 34228 LAW 64053 r

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

 

 

SR0461- 3 -LRB103 34228 LAW 64053 r

1and
 
2    WHEREAS, Ernestine Jackson is survived by her husband of
362 years, Donald R. Jackson Sr.; her sons, Donald Jackson Jr.,
4Dale (Diane Linda) Jackson, and Deric (Hannah Puffer) Jackson;
5her brothers, Issac (Delores) Humes Jr. and Richard (Gladys)
6Humes; her sisters, Maggie Jenkins and Tracy (Eugene) Gathers;
7her grandchildren, Desirae (Duane Simmons) Jackson, Mario
8Jackson, Sofia Jackson, Lewyn Jackson, Tiffany (Dominique)
9Hobbs, and Randy Jackson Jr.; 12 great-grandchildren; three
10great-great-grandchildren; and a host of nieces, nephews,
11family, and friends; therefore, be it
 
12    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL
13ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of
14Ernestine Jackson and extend our sincere condolences to her
15family, friends, and all who knew and loved her; and be it
16further
 
17    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
18presented to the family of Ernestine Jackson as an expression
19of our deepest sympathy.