To someone we considered a friend in spirit, who worked so hard not only for the people of Cleveland, but for Hillary Clinton on this campaign, we pause here to give thanks for the marvelous life you lived, and all the good you did. We’re going to have to step it up and work a little harder and do a lot more good in this world, because Stephanie Tubbs Jones, you were a human dynamo, who lit up a room and inspired with ease.

We’ll never forget when you walked into a women’s event in Arkon this February and said, “Well, look at this: a room full of women, like jewels in a crown – vanilla…cinnamon…and dark chocolate brown.”

That just makes us smile. You had all sorts of fun turns of phrase and little poems like that, always delivered in Tubbs Jones style. Such a vivacious, fun, engaging, wonderful woman.

We were so looking forward to the luncheon with you in Denver next week, and will truly cherish the enounters we had with you on the campaign trail.

Thank you so much for all you did, for Hillary, and for your constituents.

You are already missed.

UPDATE: The very first video we wanted to see today was this one: Tubbs Jones on Hardball versus a clueless SoetorObama supporter:

Man. We’re never going to get to shout excitedly TUBBS JONES! TUBBS JONES! anywhere again. You have no idea what that means to us here at HillBuzz. Through the worst of the February caucuses and primaries, when we were working so hard to stem the losses and hold our lines, when we were camped out at BuzzQuarters at all hours of the night, whenever TUBBS JONES would appear on the screen (back when we still watched MSNBC and CNN), we’d shout and cheer, hug, and feel this burst of life and power emanating magically from TUBBS JONES. If Tubbs Jones was ready for battle and engaged in the fight, we could all work that much harder too. The woman INSPIRED. You hear the Kool-Aid Gang talk about SoetorObama and how he inspires them, well, who would you rather want by your side in a fight? SoetorObama, or the force of nature that God wrapped in mortal flesh and someone named TUBBS JONES.  We’re from Cleveland and we know the firepower TUBBS JONES brought. Next to her, SoetorObama was the SS Minnow, and she the biggest, baddest, boldest, most awesome super-duper carrier you could ever imagine.

We can’t believe she’s gone. Tonight, there’s going to be lots of pizza and beer at BuzzQuarters, with few dry eyes, as we snack, remember, cry, LAUGH OUT LOUD, and share our favorite TUBBS JONES moments from the campaign. Oh, and there are many of them.

This teaches all of us to appreciate the dynamos we have around us. Fighting for Hillary Clinton against the impossible odds stacked against her this last year, we met some amazing people.  Today, we’re going to tell as many of them as possible how much they mean to us. All of our Hillary Heroes.

In the spirit of the one-of-a-kind, unforgettable, incredible Stephanie Tubbs Jones, please do the same…tell the people who inspire you, who give you that extra ooomph when you need it, exactly what they mean to you. Email, letter, phone call, or even silent prayer counts. Just send some love out there tonight, in honor of this remarkable, remarkable Hillary Hero.

It’s hard to lose a friend — but man, wasn’t it great we had her in our lives, and isn’t it great we get to remember her always, and maybe put a little Stephanie Tubbs Jones in what we do from here on out.