2015 Regular Session ENROLLED
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 24
BY SENATORS BROOME, WARD AND WHITE
A RESOLUTION
To express the sincere condolences of the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana upon the
death of Deacon Chairman Emeritus Jesse Spears Jr.
WHEREAS, it is with great sorrow and sadness that the members of the Louisiana
Senate have learned of the death of Deacon Chairman Emeritus Jesse Spears Jr., known
throughout the community as "Sugar" or "Mr. Jesse," on Monday, April 6, 2015, at age
eighty-seven; and
WHEREAS, a native and resident of Zachary, Louisiana, he was an only child, born
June 8, 1927, to Jesse Spears Sr., and Leona Wesley Shoemaker; and
WHEREAS, he was married to Virginia M. Spears for sixty-four years and they were
blessed with five children; and
WHEREAS, a deacon at New Pilgrim B.C. for over sixty-one years, community
activist, and civil rights pioneer, Jesse was indelibly involved in and always made himself
available for a cause, never being far away from the "action" in his community or in his
church, for he was blessed with wisdom, knowledge, and the Holy Spirit; and
WHEREAS, Jesse began his early educational endeavors at Little Star Baptist
Church, and then later traveled by train from Zachary to Scotlandville to attend Southern
University Laboratory School, graduating in 1945 and also attended tailoring school,
becoming a tailor; and
WHEREAS, a veteran of World War II, he began work in the Zachary area at
Kennedy's lumber company, and in Baker at Merrick's gas station, before being employed
by the Ethel Refinery plant in Baton Rouge; and
WHEREAS, Sugar retired from Copolymer Rubber and Chemical plant in 1989, after
thirty years of service; and
WHEREAS, baptized by the late Reverend Mack Hill in 1938, he faithfully served
New Pilgrim throughout his life: singing in the choir and then serving for sixty-one years in
the Deacon Ministry; fifty-five years as chairman; and
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WHEREAS, in the community, Jesse was a founding member of Zachary Men's
Club, and had been a member since 1959; and
WHEREAS, he was inspired to register to vote and became actively involved in local
politics, leading to his efforts in founding the Zachary Voters League; and
WHEREAS, a driving force in the old Northwestern High School PTA, he
spearheaded efforts to obtain uniforms for the school's football team and was instrumental
in establishing the Northwestern High School Braves Backers; and
WHEREAS, he served as president of both Northwestern's and Zachary High's
parent-teacher organizations; and
WHEREAS, Jesse lent his time and expertise to service as scoutmaster for Zachary
Boys Scout troops 93 and 240 and several members of these troops became ministers; and
WHEREAS, more of his community activities brought him to service as a member
of the Zachary Biracial Committee, formed to lay the groundwork for the desegregation of
Zachary schools in 1969 and this formative work with the schools in Zachary and his ability
to work with diverse coalitions of city officials, parents, administrators, teachers, and
students, led to his being appointed by former Governor Mike Foster to the first interim
school board of the Zachary Community School District; and
WHEREAS, among his other civic engagements and honors include work as leader
with the Zachary Benevolent Society, the Zachary Cemetery Maintenance Corporation,
Incorporated, and the Zachary Kiwanis Club; and
WHEREAS, in 2005, he was recognized as "Zachary Man of the Year"; in 2007, he
was voted into the Zachary Chamber of Commerce's Hall of Distinction; and in 2008, he was
chosen as a recipient of the Martin Luther King Humanitarian Award by Alpha Phi Alpha
Fraternity, Inc.; and
WHEREAS, he was preceded in death by his parents, Jesse Spears Sr., and Leona
Wesley Shoemaker; maternal grandmother, Lucinda Albert Green; father-in-law and
mother-in-law, Willie and Magaret Morrison, and a daughter, Beverly Jean Spears; and
WHEREAS, Sugar leaves to cherish his memory his loving and devoted wife,
Virginia M. Spears; four children, Ronald (Alice), Wayne (Victoria), Connie Thornton
(Bruce), and Carl (Ethel); four aunts, Isabell George, Jessie Green, Lucinda Green, and
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Gertrude Spears; one uncle, Samuel Polk; in-laws, Ruby Morrison, Mary L. Hutson, Henry
Morrison (Willie Mae), and Allen Riley Sr; eleven grandchildren and fourteen great
grandchildren; two godchildren, Elizabeth Hayes and Tammy Lee; first cousin and "adopted
daughter" Sharon McKnight; and a host of "adopted sons", nieces, nephews, cousins, and
friends; and
WHEREAS, because of his numerous accomplishments in public and private life,
the death of Deacon Chairman Emeritus Jesse Spears Jr. has left a void in his community
and in our state and has created a genuine sense of profound sorrow in his friends and
family; and
WHEREAS, the success of the state of Louisiana, the strength of our communities,
and the overall vitality of American society depend, in great measure, upon people like Jesse
Spears Jr. who dedicate their lives to making the world a better place.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana
does hereby acknowledge with gratitude the outstanding service and many accomplishments
of Deacon Chairman Emeritus Jesse Spears Jr., and extend sincere condolences to his family
on the occasion of his death.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to
Virginia M. Spears.
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
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