Rep. Stephanie Tubbs Jones remains alive despite news reports

Jones remains in critical condition
with ‘very limited brain function’

Ohio Rep. Stephanie Tubbs Jones, the first black woman to represent Ohio in Congress, remains alive – despite several news reports around 2 p.m. today to the contrary, as well as information in Congress around 1 p.m., saying she had passed away.

Jones has been hospitalized for about a day now, as a result of a brain aneurysm in what doctors describe as an "inaccessible" part of the brain. Many news outlets had reported she had died from a brain aneurysm she suffered Tuesday evening while driving, according to the Cleveland Plains Dealer and CNN. She will celebrate her 59th birthday in 21 days, on September 10.

While driving with her son in Ohio on Tuesday, August 20, 2008, a police officer saw her driving her vehicle erratically, according to news reports. The police officer blocked traffic behind her to prevent other vehicles from becoming involved in an accident. When her vehicle came to a halt, the officer called for medical assistance, according to those same news reports.

Earlier in the presidential campaign, Jones, a Democratic super delegate, was one of Hillary Clinton’s most ardent supporters. She turned her support over to Barack Obama after Clinton bowed out of the race in June. She was scheduled to be at the Democratic National Convention, as well as he involved in a forum on electoral reform in September.

Jones’ official biography on Congress’ site reads:

JONES, Stephanie Tubbs, a Representative from Ohio; born in Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, Ohio, September 10, 1949; graduated from Collinwood High School, Cleveland, Ohio; B.A., Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, 1971; J.D., Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, 1974; elected to Cleveland, Ohio, municipal court, 1981; judge, Court of Common Pleas of Cuyahoga County, Ohio, 1983-1991; prosecutor, Cuyahoga County, Ohio, 1991-1998; elected as a Democrat to the One Hundred Sixth and to the four succeeding Congresses (January 3, 1999-present); chair, Committee on Standards of Official Conduct (One Hundred Tenth Congress). (http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=J000284)

Jones was married for 27 years to Mervyn L. Jones, Sr., who is deceased. She is also the proud mother of Mervyn Leroy Jones, II.

Tagged as: Barack Obama, brain aneurysm, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland Heights, Cleveland State University, critcal condition, Democratic National Convention, Democrats, East Cleveland, forum on electoral reform, Hillary Clinton, Hillary Rodham Clinton, Huron Hospital, Stephanie Tubbs Jones, super delegate, superdelegate, very limited brain function