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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.