House Speaker Adrienne Jones (D-Baltimore County) leads floor session following the death of her son in late February. (Photo by Danielle J. Brown/Maryland Matters)
House Speaker Adrienne Jones (D-Baltimore County) returned to lead the House of Delegates in floor session Monday, just days after the funeral for her eldest son, Brandon, who died unexpectedly late last month.
Jones’s return to the House floor comes 10 days after she was swept out of the chamber on Feb. 27 and told of the death of her son, who was 44 years old when he died. She took a moment Monday to thank the members and other state figures who had reached out to her in the days she was absent from the House to mourn her son.
Once word got around the State House about Jones’s loss, committee leaders shared their condolences ahead of bill hearings that day, and Gov. Wes Moore (D) led a moment of silence before getting into budget discussions in Joint House Appropriations and Ways and Means committees.
“Before I begin with the work we want to do,” she said, “I just wanted to thank everyone for their cards, their calls, their prayers.”
In her remarks Monday, she thanked Speaker Pro Tem Dana Stein (D-Baltimore) who led floor sessions in her absence. She also thanked the lawmakers, state officials, and political figures who attended the funeral in Randallstown Friday.
“It warmed my heart,” she said. “I lost my son — but just the fact that I saw so many of you, really warmed my heart, so I just wanted to thank you.”
“And I’m back,” she declared. Delegates then stood to give her a standing ovation.
After her comments, the House returned to business, during which Jones was solemn but in good enough spirits to joke with members during the floor session.