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.

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