HR0952 102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0952 LRB102 29108 ECR 41043 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are saddened to learn of the death of Karen Susan Elmira Johnson Jones, who passed away on September 10, 2022; and

WHEREAS, Karen Jones was born to Claire Yvonne Johnson and Alfred Lloyd Johnson Sr. in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on January 12, 1961; she graduated from Saul W.B. Agricultural School in 1978; she earned her Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from Beaver College, known today as Arcadia University, in 1982; she married Glenn Allen Jones in Fort Worth, Texas, and they resided in Gurnee, Illinois; she obtained her MBA from the Lake Forest Graduate School of Management in 2001; and

WHEREAS, Karen Jones worked at Abbott Laboratories, a Global Healthcare and Fortune 500 company, for 33 years; she retired as Communications and Quality Operations Program Manager; during her tenure, she received several awards and accolades, and she was a member of several professional organizations and committees; and

WHEREAS, Karen Jones committed to her faith at a young age; as a child, she was baptized at Pinkett Tabernacle Friendly Methodist Church in North Philadelphia; she was an active member of Turning Point Life Church in Kenosha, Wisconsin; and

WHEREAS, For 20 years, Karen Jones served as the CEO of The Chocolate Chip Association, a STEM/STEAM program based in Lake County that has taught thousands of Black and Brown girls worldwide in entrepreneurship, aviation, cooking, performing arts, robotics, and all things STEAM-related; and

WHEREAS, Karen Jones is survived by her husband of 38 years, Glenn; her children, Glen Alexander, Christopher Owen, and Joy Cassandra; her parents; her brothers, Alfred (Wanda), Jeffrey, Timothy (Calencia), and Caleaf; her granddaughters, Amira and Nylah; her mother-in-law, Bernice Jones; her sister-in-law, Helen Jones; her brothers-in-law, Douglas (Regina) Jones and Lawrence Jones; the Spann Clan; the McAliley's; her special friends, Saundra Dixon, Lenita Spears, Patricia Jones, Betty Peeples, Carla Little, Kimberly Bright, Teresa Brown, Lisa Wilkerson, Trechy Beasley, Kay Kneeland, Astrid Tompkins, Mori Banks, Rose Lewis, and Sheila Banks; and a host of cousins, relatives, family, and friends; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED SECOND GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Karen Susan Elmira Johnson Jones and extend our sincere condolences to her family, friends, and all who knew and loved her; and be it further

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