[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 165 (Friday, October 18, 2019)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1309]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              IN HONOR OF THE MEMORY OF JANIE MARIE JONES

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                          HON. DEBBIE DINGELL

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, October 18, 2019

  Mrs. DINGELL. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize and honor the 
esteemed life of Janie Marie Jones. Ms. Jones passed away on September 
29, 2019 which greatly saddened our entire community. Her remarkable 
service to the Washtenaw County community is worthy of commendation.
  Born in 1934, Ms. Jones grew up in Louisiana and Texas. After 
marrying, she moved to Detroit, Michigan with her two children. Ms. 
Jones was a devoted mother, selflessly putting the needs of her 
children before her own, and even delayed pursuing her own education 
until they were sufficiently grown. At the age of 35, Ms. Jones 
received her high school diploma from Robichaud High School and 
continued her education at Concordia College. She earned her 
Baccalaureate degree in 1989, and later took classes toward a master's 
degree in education in the years before her illness.
  Ms. Jones quickly became a fixture of the Washtenaw County Community. 
Upon receiving her degree, she shared her enthusiasm for education with 
our community's children by working as a substitute teacher and 
volunteer for Head Start in Ypsilanti. Furthermore, Ms. Jones was 
recognized as a dedicated advocate for our community's veterans. She 
worked as a respiratory therapist at the Ann Arbor Veterans 
Administration Medical Center and also served veterans in a volunteer 
capacity, where she helped them navigate the complex federal system and 
connect with the services and resources they needed.
  In addition to her work in healthcare, Ms. Jones was selected to join 
the Washtenaw County Sheriff's Department in 1965 and was a trailblazer 
in this field. Ms. Jones was the first black woman deputy in the 
department's history, breaking the glass ceiling for other women in our 
community. Furthermore, she served on the Workforce Development Board, 
the Citizens Council to the Juvenile Court, and the Superior Township 
Planning Commission and Board of Review. Ms. Jones dedicated her life 
working for causes she believed in, and her efforts truly affected 
change throughout her community.
  Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring the legacy 
of Janie Marie Jones. We will forever remember her remarkable life, 
devotion, and service. She will be dearly missed. May she rest in 
eternal peace.

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