SR1889 100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR1889 LRB100 22563 MST 41461 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Ben Louis Jones; and

WHEREAS, Ben Jones was born in Saluda, South Carolina to Lula Mae "Bennie" and Emanual Jones on February 25, 1927; he completed high school and received his license in carpentry; he and his wife, Eva Mae, moved to Cleveland in the early 1950s as part of the Great Migration; and

WHEREAS, In the 1960s, Ben Jones and his brother, Alonzo Smith, founded a construction company in Cleveland, Beneva Construction, which specialized in building and remodeling homes; the company was known for excellence and precision and was a means of providing jobs and apprenticeships for family moving north; and

WHEREAS, Ben Jones married Reatha on February 26, 1977; they enjoyed traveling together, especially to Israel, where they were baptized in the Jordan River; and

WHEREAS, Ben Jones always enjoyed meeting new people; he acted in the Karamu Playhouse in Cleveland; his CB handle was "The House Doctor"; he enjoyed fishing from his boat and often caught enough fish to feed the community; he joined the Union Grove Missionary Baptist Church in the early 1960s and served on the deacon board and in the male chorus; and

WHEREAS, Ben Jones is survived by his wife of 41 years, Reatha; his sister, Johnnie Mae Herbert (George); his son, John; his daughter, Patricia (Stephen); his stepson, Solomon (Renee); his granddaughter, Shantai; his nieces, Quinda, Sherri, Bennita (Brian), Thelma, Beverly, and Breanna; his nephew, Reuben; and numerous great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and friends; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDREDTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Ben Louis Jones, and extend our sincere condolences to his family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it further

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