Biography

05/03/1928 - 05/19/1996

Roxanne H. Jones (D3) Philadelphia (Part) County 1985-1996 

Early Life: 

Roxanne H. Jones, born May 3, 1928, South Carolina, daughter of Gilford and Mary Beatrice Bruton Harper; education. Howard High School, Wilmington, Delaware; married, James H. Jones, (deceased), two daughters Wanda and Patricia; elected, Pennsylvania State Senate, 1984-1996; died, in office of the Senate, May 19, 1996, heart, Saint Joseph’s Hospital, city of Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania; no information available on interment. 

Professional titles; business ownership; board memberships; local government; club memberships:

Chair, Southwark section of Philadelphia Public Housing Chapter; Philadelphia Welfare Rights Organization, 1967-68; founder, Philadelphia Citizens in Action; board member, Pennsylvania Minority Business Development Authority; Congress of Black Women, Philadelphia Chapter; Allegheny Women Foundation; Long Term Care Council; Pennsylvania. Trauma Systems Foundation; Children’s Health Advisory Council; co-chair, Coalition of Concerned Citizens; member, Pennsylvania. Legislative Black Caucus; member, Martin Luther King Center for Social Change; National Political Congress of Black Women.

Pennsylvania Politics:

Elected, Democrat, Pennsylvania State Senate, 3rd district, Philadelphia (Part) County, 1985-1996; committee assignments, Aging and Youth, Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure, Public Health and Welfare (Minority Chairwoman), Urban Affairs and Housing Committees; died, May 19, 1996, in office of the Senate, Shirley Kitchen seated, November 18, 1996.

Legacy:

First Black woman elected to Pennsylvania State Senate, district encompassed much of North Philadelphia, 1985-1996. Second woman to serve in the Pennsylvania State Senate, since Flora M. Vare, 1928.

Cited: 

Cox, Harold. "Senate Members "J"". Wilkes University Election Statistics Project. Wilkes University.

Cox, Harold. Senate1790-1869 (wilkes.edu). Wilkes University Election Statistics Project. Wilkes University.

The Pennsylvania Manual, (1995). McQuown L.S., (Editor). (Volume 112). Department of General Services. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, page 3-43. Biographical Sketches of Senators, page 3-17.

Senate Bill 1193 Regular Session 1997-1998 Act of December 21, 1998, P.L. 1062, No. 139,  Designating a section of Allegheny Avenue (SR 1013) in Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania, as Roxanne H. Jones Avenue 1998 Act 139 (state.pa.us) 

"Public Law 106-111-November 29, 1999," in United States Statutes at Large Containing the Laws and Concurrent Resolutions Enacted During the First Session of the One Hundred Sixth Congress of the United States of America 1999, Vol. 113, Part 2. Washington, D.C.: United States Government Printing Office, 2000.

BILLS-106hr100eh.pdf (govinfo.gov)

Roxanne H. Jones (unknown-1996) - Find a Grave Memorial