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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to
3learn of the death of Alvin Fitzgerald Cunningham, who passed
4away on May 26, 2019; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Alvin Fitzgerald was born in Waukegan to Mary Ross
6Cunningham and Johnie Simmons Jr. on December 13, 1969; he was
7baptized at Antioch Baptist Church in Waukegan under Pastor
8W.H. McIntosh at the age of ten; there, he served as a junior
9usher; he was educated in the Waukegan Public School System and
10graduated from Waukegan East High School in 1989;
11affectionately known as the "Comic" in high school, he
12participated in several sports, including track, basketball,
13and football, as well as JROTC; he expressed his musical talent
14by playing the flute in the Waukegan High School Band; the
15value of hard work was instilled in him at an early age; he had
16a paper route with the News Sun, was a golf caddy for Glenbrook
17Country Club, and worked at Pete's Fruit Market in Waukegan;
18and
 
19    WHEREAS, In 1989, Alvin Fitzgerald enlisted in the United
20States Army, where he served as a Light Wheel Mechanic; while
21serving in the military, he was assigned to Bravo Company 706th
22Maintenance/6th Infantry Division (Light) Pacific, Fort
23Wainwright, Alaska; upon discharge, he returned to Waukegan,

 

 

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1where he briefly worked for the Lake County Recorder of Deeds
2before beginning his career in the hospitality industry; he
3worked in the hospitality industry for many years before
4relocating to Tallahassee, Florida to serve as the Regional
5District Manager for Red Roof Inn, a position he held until his
6death; and
 
7    WHEREAS, Alvin Fitzgerald enjoyed fishing, barbecuing,
8riding motorcycles, watching the West Virginia Mountaineers
9football team, spending time with family and friends, music,
10and his pet reptiles; he was always the life of the party and
11especially enjoyed participating in several fundraisers for
12the Lupus Foundation of America; and
 
13    WHEREAS, Alvin Cunningham was preceded in death by his
14father, Johnie Simmons Jr; his maternal and paternal
15grandparents, Ollis Sr. and Lorena Ross and Johnie Simmons Sr.
16and Julia Harris; and many maternal aunts, uncles, and family
17members; and
 
18    WHEREAS, Alvin Cunningham is survived by his mother, Mary
19Ross-Cunningham; his daughters, LeKeshia Lynn Cunningham,
20Ashlee Katherine Lorena Cunningham, and Aareania
21Robertson-Cunningham; his son, Anthony Cunningham; his
22brothers, Reverend Dr. Emerson (Lillian) Ross, Mayor Sam
23Cunningham, Levi (Millicent) Finch, Alonzo (Chetara) Jenkins,

 

 

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1and Johnie Simmons III; his sisters, Jackie (Wayne) Bailey,
2Asia Simmons, and Regina Bruno; his aunts, Mary Hill, Vera
3Polk, Dorothy Dickson, Eleanor (Larry) Hurt-Johnson, Gloria
4Rice, Wynona (Judge) Booker, and Ruth Jackson; his uncles,
5Eugene Ross, Forest (Dorothy) Ross, James (Ann) Ross, and
6Lorenza (Jennifer) Beville-Ross; his godsisters, Crystal
7Handy-Allen and Sonia Pipes; his godbrother, Jeremiah Norwood;
8his special friends, Milton, Hector, and Charles Rodriguez,
9Lance Handy, Jerome Adams, Sam Dotson III, and Darrin Davis Jr;
10several close-knit cousins, nieces, nephews, relatives, and
11friends; therefore, be it
 
12    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL
13ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of
14Alvin Fitzgerald Cunningham and extend our sincere condolences
15to his family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be
16it further
 
17    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
18presented to the family of Alvin Cunningham as an expression of
19our deepest sympathy.