A JOINT RESOLUTION Honoring the life and memory of edward "Ed" Walter jones, former member of the general assembly.
Whereas, Edward "Ed" Walter Jones was born on March 11, 1950, in Asheville, North Carolina, to James Jones and Dorothy Miller Jones Gaines; and
Whereas, Ed Jones attended public schools and Blanton's Business College in Asheville, graduated from Western Piedmont College in Morganton, and completed the North Carolina State Administrative Officer's Program in Raleigh; and
Whereas, upon graduation from college, Ed Jones entered the military and served in the 82nd Airborne Division of the United States Army; and
Whereas, after leaving the army, Ed Jones served as a deputy for the Buncombe County Sheriff's Department prior to training at the North Carolina Justice Academy; and
Whereas, Ed Jones became a highway patrol officer in 1975, receiving a promotion to sergeant in 1985 and to first sergeant in 1995; and
Whereas, Ed Jones was recognized as Officer of the Year for Hertford and Bertie Counties; and
Whereas, upon his retirement from the State Highway Patrol in 2000, Ed Jones served as the Chief of Police for the Town of Enfield and then as the Town's mayor; and
Whereas, in 2005, Ed Jones was appointed to fill an unexpired term in the House of Representatives, representing the citizens of Halifax and Nash Counties for one term; and
Whereas, in 2007, Ed Jones was appointed to the Senate to fill an unexpired term and went on to be elected to three additional terms, representing the citizens of the Counties of Bertie, Chowan, Gates, Halifax, Hertford, Northampton, and Perquimans; and
Whereas, as the only retired State Trooper ever elected to the State Senate, Ed Jones took a special interest in the area of crime control and public safety; and
Whereas, during his tenure in the General Assembly, Ed Jones served with honor and distinction as co‑chair of the State and Local Government Committee, vice‑chair of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Justice and Public Safety, vice‑chair of Judiciary II Committee (Criminal), and as a member of the following committees: Appropriations Subcommittee on Natural and Economic Resources, Education/Public Instruction, Health Care, Joint Select Committee on Emergency Preparedness and Disaster Management Recovery, Joint Select Committee on Tornado Damage Response, Mental Health and Youth Services, Redistricting, Rules and Operations of the Senate, and Select Committee on Government and Election Reform; and
Whereas, Ed Jones was the first African‑American to serve as a Trustee of Chowan University in Murfreesboro, North Carolina; and
Whereas, Ed Jones served as the president of the Halifax County Law Enforcement Association, vice‑president of the Halifax County Inter‑Governmental Association, and as a member of the Governor's Crime Commission; and
Whereas, Ed Jones was also a member of the Board of Directors of the Halifax Boys and Girls Club and a member of the National Conference of Black Mayors, the North Carolina Black Mayors Association, the National Legislative Caucus, the North Carolina Legislative Black Caucus; and
Whereas, Ed Jones was recognized as an Honorary Pine Tree Chief by the Meherrin Indian Nation and also received numerous other statewide and local awards and honors; and
Whereas,  Ed Jones was a loyal and devoted member of his church, St. Paul Baptist Church of Enfield, North Carolina, where he served as a trustee; and
Whereas, Ed Jones was a man who was committed to helping others and truly lived by his motto, "It is not about the titles we possess, it is about the job we do;" and
Whereas, Ed Jones died December 14, 2012, after a lifetime of public service; and
Whereas, Ed Jones is survived by his wife, Maryann Holden Jones; two daughters, Alesha Jones Garrett (Donzell) and Andrea Long (Lanier); and three granddaughters, Farrah Long and Karisma and Karmyn Garrett; Now, therefore,
Be it resolved by the Senate:
SECTION 1.  The General Assembly honors the life and memory of Edward "Ed" Walter Jones and expresses its appreciation for the service he rendered to his community, the State of North Carolina, and the nation.
SECTION 2.  The General Assembly extends its deepest sympathy to the family of Edward "Ed" Walter Jones for the loss of a beloved husband, father, and grandfather.
SECTION 3.  The Secretary of State shall transmit a certified copy of this resolution to the family of Edward "Ed" Walter Jones.
SECTION 4.  This resolution is effective upon ratification.