HR0401 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0401 LRB104 13977 MST 26938 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are saddened to learn of the death of Arnita "Anita" Fairchild Jones, who passed away on May 15, 2025; and

WHEREAS, Anita Fairchild Jones was born in Chicago to Arvie and Florence Fairchild on November 9, 1957; she attended the Mason Upgrade Center and graduated from Farragut Career Academy in 1976; she married Emmett Jones Jr. in Chicago on September 16, 1978, and they spent 23 happy years together; she began attending the Chicago Business Academy to get her certification to become a certified nursing assistant in 1980; and

WHEREAS, Anita Fairchild Jones, throughout the 1970s and 1980s, worked at Wilson's Sporting Goods, Church's Chicken, and Fun In Motion; she also worked as a certified nursing assistant at St. Anthony's Hospital; she became a foster parent in 2001 and a caregiver for her parents in 2009; and

WHEREAS, Anita Fairchild Jones was an entrepreneur at heart; she opened a store on Division Street in Chicago in 1989, AJ's Variety Shop; she began vending at major conventions, including Today's Black Woman and the National Baptist Convention; and

WHEREAS, Anita Fairchild Jones was passionate about serving others and donated common everyday needs to those less fortunate at the local shelter for women and children in the late 1990s; she was also passionate about celebrating others and decided to honor women in the community who made an impact through extraordinary work and hosted the first AJ's First Ladies Walk: Fashion Extravaganza at the DuSable Museum in October 2002, where she presented awards to the "everyday" women; she also founded Free Spirit Women Unlimited; and

WHEREAS, Anita Fairchild Jones was baptized at New Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church at the age of 11 and later took courses at the Moody Bible Institute; she was ordained as an evangelist on December 1, 2013 and completed her degree in biblical studies on September 23, 2018; and

WHEREAS, Anita Fairchild Jones volunteered for several political campaigns; and

WHEREAS, Anita Fairchild Jones was preceded in death by her parents and her brothers, Arvie Fairchild Jr. and Cornelius Fairchild; and

WHEREAS, Anita Fairchild Jones is survived by her children, Monique Jones, Donisha Jones, Emmett Jones III, and Anita (Clayton) Wheat; her brothers, Anthony Fairchild and Reginald Lemon; her sisters, Jeanette (Ervin) Woods and Shanell McCraney; her grandchildren, Adrian Baker Jr., Brian Baker, Xion Baker, Jordan Baker, Nyomi Jones, Elijah Jones, Emmett Jones IV, Jeremiah Jones, Aleis Wheat, Alira Wheat, Sariah Wheat, and Josiah Wheat; eight great-grandchildren; her special sisters, Roseanne Fairchild and Lois Fairchild; her spiritual sisters, Shirley Smith, Ruthshell Walker, Faith Arnold, and Georgia Gibbs; her best friend and cousin, Brenda Lindsey; and numerous nieces and nephews, cousins, and extended family; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Arnita "Anita" Fairchild 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 Anita Fairchild Jones as an expression of our deepest sympathy.