SR1889LRB100 22563 MST 41461 r


  
1
SENATE RESOLUTION

  
 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to 
3learn of the death of Ben Louis Jones; and
  
 
4    WHEREAS, Ben Jones  was born in Saluda, South Carolina to 
5Lula Mae "Bennie" and Emanual Jones on February 25, 1927; he  
6completed high school and received his license in carpentry; he 
7and his wife, Eva Mae, moved to Cleveland in the early 1950s as 
8part of the Great Migration; and
  
 
9    WHEREAS, In the 1960s, Ben Jones  and his brother, Alonzo 
10Smith, founded a construction company in Cleveland, Beneva 
11Construction, which specialized in building and remodeling 
12homes; the company was known for excellence and precision and 
13was a means of providing jobs and apprenticeships for family 
14moving north; and
 
15    WHEREAS, Ben Jones married Reatha on February 26, 1977; 
16they enjoyed traveling together, especially to Israel, where 
17they were baptized in the Jordan River; and
  
 
18    WHEREAS, Ben Jones always enjoyed meeting new people; he 
19acted in the Karamu Playhouse in Cleveland; his   CB handle was 
20"The House Doctor"; he enjoyed fishing from his boat and often 
21caught enough fish to feed the community; he joined the Union 
 
 
SR1889- 2 -LRB100 22563 MST 41461 r

1Grove Missionary Baptist Church in the early 1960s and served 
2on the deacon board and in the male chorus; and
  
 
  
3    WHEREAS, Ben Jones  is survived by his wife of 41 years, 
4Reatha; his  sister, Johnnie Mae Herbert (George); his son, 
5John; his
daughter, Patricia (Stephen); his stepson, Solomon 
6(Renee); his granddaughter, Shantai; his nieces, Quinda, 
7Sherri, Bennita (Brian), Thelma, Beverly,
and Breanna; his  
8nephew, Reuben; and numerous great-grandchildren, nieces, 
9nephews,
and friends; therefore, be it
  
 
10    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDREDTH GENERAL 
11ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of 
12Ben Louis Jones, and extend our sincere condolences to his 
13family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it 
14further
  
 
15    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
16presented to  the family of  Ben Jones  as an expression of our 
17deepest sympathy.