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File #: 26-0680    Version: 1 Name: HONORING THE LIFE OF DR. BONNIE MARIE SMITH
Type: Consent Calendar Resolution Status: Approved
File created: 1/14/2026 In control: Board of Commissioners
On agenda: 1/15/2026 Final action: 1/15/2026
Title: PROPOSED RESOLUTION HONORING THE LIFE OF DR. BONNIE MARIE SMITH WHEREAS, Almighty God in His infinite wisdom called from our midst Dr. Bonnie Marie Smith, age 90; and WHEREAS, Bonnie Marie Smith, was born on August 24, 1936, in Emmet, Arkansas, was the daughter of Elizabeth Muldrew and M. S. Muldrew. Both parents had twin brothers. Her spiritual foundation was established at Shady Grove African Methodist Episcopal Church, which is now known as the United Methodist Church and she also found a community at Saint Paul's Baptist Church, where she frequently joined in worship; and WHEREAS, following the conclusion of World War II, Bonnie and her family relocated to Chicago, Illinois, and at the age of 16, she graduated from Hyde Park Academy and subsequently earned a Bachelor of Science (Biology) degree from Chicago State University, formerly known as Chicago Teachers College; and WHEREAS, in 1954, Bonnie and Jerry T. Jones were wed at Grant Memorial African Methodist Episcopal Church....
Sponsors: DONNA MILLER
title
PROPOSED RESOLUTION

HONORING THE LIFE OF DR. BONNIE MARIE SMITH

WHEREAS, Almighty God in His infinite wisdom called from our midst Dr. Bonnie Marie Smith, age 90; and

WHEREAS, Bonnie Marie Smith, was born on August 24, 1936, in Emmet, Arkansas, was the daughter of Elizabeth Muldrew and M. S. Muldrew. Both parents had twin brothers. Her spiritual foundation was established at Shady Grove African Methodist Episcopal Church, which is now known as the United Methodist Church and she also found a community at Saint Paul's Baptist Church, where she frequently joined in worship; and

WHEREAS, following the conclusion of World War II, Bonnie and her family relocated to Chicago, Illinois, and at the age of 16, she graduated from Hyde Park Academy and subsequently earned a Bachelor of Science (Biology) degree from Chicago State University, formerly known as Chicago Teachers College; and

WHEREAS, in 1954, Bonnie and Jerry T. Jones were wed at Grant Memorial African Methodist Episcopal Church. Bonnie and Jerry T. Jones became the parents of Jerome Tytus, Valencia Michelle, and Bretrand Frederick. Valencia and Jerome predeceased Bonnie Marie; and

WHEREAS, in 1969, she was honored with the prestigious Ford Foundation Fellowship, which granted her a highly sought-after sabbatical leave from the Chicago Board of Education. She furthered her academic pursuits by obtaining a Master of Arts (Biology) degree from the University of Chicago and a Doctor of Philosophy degree from Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana. Throughout her extensive academic and professional career, she dedicated herself to the fields of biology, biochemistry, and research-based science curricula development. Notably, she served as a science and biology teacher within the Chicago Public School System from 1963 to 1972 where her first assignment was DuSable and her last one was Fenger High School; and

WHEREAS, at Indiana University in Bloomington and Indiana University/Purdue University at Indi...

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