HR0651 94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0651 LRB094 14586 DRH 49529 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The General Assembly was sad to learn of the death of Jeune Jackson-Thompson on Monday, October 10, 2005; and

WHEREAS, Jeune Jackson-Thompson was born March 21, 1953 to Johnny and June Jackson in Chicago, Illinois; she was the beloved sister of Willard (Chickie) Moody; she was blessed with a foster grandmother, Elnora Johnson, until the age of fourteen; in 1967 she became the adopted daughter of J.D. and Mary Springfield and acquired five loving sisters; and

WHEREAS, Jeune attended and completed Willard Elementary and DuSable High School; she furthered her education by attending nursing school and worked at Park West Medical Center; when Jeune had the opportunity, she changed careers to her true passion, entertainment; Jeune was a shining light to all who entered the doors at Black Entertainment Television (BET) for the past seven years, and she will be sorely missed by her co-workers; and

WHEREAS, Jeune married Sherman Thompson and acquired a stepdaughter, Tina; to this union, one son, Courtney Thompson, would be born; Jeune was the kind of mother everyone would want, loving, understanding, supportive, a good provider and a best friend to her son Courtney; and

WHEREAS, Jeune accepted Christ at an early age; during her early teens, she joined the SCLC Operation Breadbasket Choir and also united with the Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church; the choir was an intricate part of Jeune's life and was enriched by her voice and keen ear for music; the Breadbasket Choir evolved into what is now known as the National Rainbow/PUSH Coalition Choir; Jeune's activities in the choir fused her passion for music and social justice, enabling her to travel the country on behalf of African American people to picket lines, marches and rallies; emerging from this choir was a group who call themselves The Ascensions, whose members included Eric Thomas, Cenita Scott, Kim Steel, Cynthia Rainey, and Jeune; Jeune could always tell when someone was off key and in the sweetest of ways, quietly put them back on note; they achieved huge success as they traveled the country working with such name artists as Walter Jackson, Gene Chandler, and the late Reverend Marvin Yancy; even today, they are still achieving success at the opening act for great artists, including Jennifer Holliday; and

WHEREAS, Jeune leaves surviving her husband, Sherman; her son, Courtney; her stepdaughter, Tina; her mother, June Jackson; her brother, Willard (Barbara) Moody; her mother, Mary Springfield; a sister-in-law, Linda Henderson; five sisters: Tracy (George) Simmons, Cenita (Bill) Scott, Cindy (Dan) Newhold, Gail Hawkins, and Michael (Reggie) Peterson; an aunt, Lovana S. Jones; two uncles, Harvey Day and Bradley Walker; 2 grandchildren, 22 nieces, 19 nephews; numerous cousins including Toni and Suzette Fitzpatrick; and a host of loving relatives and friends; and

WHEREAS, Jeune Jackson-Thompson will be greatly missed, especially by her friends and family; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the death of Jeune Jackson-Thompson; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Jeune Jackson-Thompson as an expression of our deepest sympathy.