LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION mourning the death of Susannah Mushatt Jones,
distinguished citizen and devoted member of her community

WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to pay tribute to
citizens of the State of New York whose lifework and civic endeavor
served to enhance the quality of life in their communities and the great
State of New York; and
WHEREAS, Susannah Mushatt Jones, the world's oldest person, died on
Thursday, May 12, 2016, at the age of 116 years, 311 days; she was the
last known American to have been born in the 1800s; and
WHEREAS, Affectionately known as Miss Susie, Susannah Mushatt Jones
lived in a senior home in Brooklyn, New York, for more than three
decades; and
WHEREAS, Born in a small farm town near Montgomery, Alabama, in 1899,
Susannah Mushatt Jones was one of 11 siblings and attended a special
school for young African-American girls; and
WHEREAS, Upon her graduation from high school in 1922, Susannah Mush-
att Jones worked full time helping family members pick crops; she left
after a year to begin working as a nanny, heading north to New Jersey
and eventually making her way to New York; and
WHEREAS, Susannah Mushatt Jones distinguished herself in her profes-
sion by her sincere dedication and substantial contribution to the
welfare of her community; and
WHEREAS, After she moved to New York, Susannah Mushatt Jones worked
with a group of her fellow high school graduates to start a scholarship
fund for young African-American women to go to college; she also was
active in her public housing building's tenant patrol until she was 106;
and
WHEREAS, Susannah Mushatt Jones was married for about five years and,
although she never had any children of her own, she has more than 100
nieces and nephews; and
WHEREAS, This centenarian's commitment to excellence, and her spirit
of humanity, carried over into all fields of enterprise, including char-
itable and civic endeavors; and
WHEREAS, Armed with a humanistic spirit, imbued with a sense of
compassion, and comforted by a loving family, Susannah Mushatt Jones
leaves behind a legacy which will long endure the passage of time and
will remain as a comforting memory to all she served and befriended;
now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
mourn the death of Susannah Mushatt Jones, distinguished citizen and
devoted member of her community; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to the family of Susannah Mushatt Jones.