Rep. Tubbs Jones dead

Rep. Stephanie Tubbs Jones (D-Ohio) has died following a massive brain aneurysm suffered Tuesday night, according to a statement released Wednesday by her family and hospital officials. She was 58.

"Throughout the course of the day and into this evening, Congresswoman Tubbs Jones' medical condition declined. Medical doctors and neurosurgeons from Huron Hospital and Cleveland Clinic sadly report that at 6:12 p.m. Congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs Jones died,” read the statement issued at 6:40 p.m. and attributed to the Tubbs Jones Family, Huron Hospital and Cleveland Clinic.

{mosads}Tubbs Jones was admitted to Huron Hospital after Cleveland Police found her unconscious in her vehicle Tuesday night. By Wednesday morning her Congressional office had said she had suffered a brain aneurysm but said she was in stable condition.

 By early afternoon Wednesday, many news outlets – including The Hill – reported that she had died. But at 2:30 p.m., her doctors and a family spokesman told reporters at the hospital that Tubbs Jones had “very limited brain function,” and was on life support. They asked for friends to pray for her.

In Washington, D.C., the Congressional Black Caucus held a prayer vigil for her in the Cannon Caucus Room.

With her death, Tubbs Jones became the seventh member of the House to die while serving in the 110th Congress.

In 1998, Tubbs Jones became the first black woman to be elected to the House from Ohio. A lifelong resident of the 11th District, Tubbs Jones was a graduate of Cleveland Public Schools, and went on to receive her undergraduate degree from Case Western Reserve University, graduating with a degree in Social Work from the Flora Mather College in 1971. She received her Juris Doctorate form Case Western Reserve University School of Law in 1974.

“I was stunned by the news today of the passing of Congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs Jones,” Rep. James Clyburn (D-S.C.),  the third-ranking Democrat in House leadership, said in a statement. “There is a great gap where she stood on behalf of affordable health care, women’s issues, access to quality education and fairness in voting…. My heart is heavy. She was larger than life and we will all greatly miss the Gentlewoman from Cleveland.  My prayers are with her family, friends and staff.”

Prior to her election to the House, Tubbs Jones served as the first African-American and the first female Cuyahoga County, Ohio Prosecutor. She was the first black woman to sit on the Common Pleas bench in the State of Ohio and was a Municipal Court Judge in the City of Cleveland.

In 2007 Tubbs Jones was appointed Chairwoman of the House Committee on Standards of Official Conduct, otherwise knows as the Ethics Committee. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) praised her for “steadfast and active leadership in a non-partisan and judicious way, holding Members to the highest ethical standard.”

Tubbs Jones was the first African-American woman appointed to the Ways and Means Committee and was an active member of numerous Congressional Caucuses, including the Congressional Black Caucus.

“She dedicated her life in public service to helping others and will continue to do so through organ donations,” her family’s statement said. “Please keep her family and friends in your thoughts and prayers during this very difficult time."

Tubbs Jones was married to Mervyn L. Jones, Sr. for 27 years until his sudden death in 2003. She is survived by her son, Mervyn Leroy Jones, II.

Information regarding her funeral service was not immediately available.