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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened
3to learn of the death of Theophilus Moore Jr., who passed away
4on January 29, 2023; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Theophilus Moore was born to Willie Bell Cole and
6Theophilus Moore Sr. in Mariana, Arkansas on October 15, 1924;
7he attended Robert R. Morton High School in Marianna and was
8drafted into the U.S. Army during his senior year in 1943, but
9his enlistment was delayed until graduation; once enlisted, he
10served in the all Black 577 Engineering Truck Company during
11World War II, and he was awarded two Bronze Stars in 1945 for
12meritorious service during the Northern France and Rhineland
13campaigns; after WWII, he was selected for entry into the
14Army's Officer Candidate School (OCS) at Fort Benning, Georgia
15under the 3d Battalion, 11th Infantry, where he participated
16in one of the first integrated training classes after the Army
17decided to diversify its officer ranks; he served in active
18duty until 1946 and then moved to Chicago; he served in the
19U.S. Army Reserves until 1953, retiring as an army major; he
20married Mildred Lee Gilmore in 1955; and
 
21    WHEREAS, Theophilus Moore began working for A&P Grocery in
221955, where he eventually rose to the title of store manager;
23after A&P, he worked for the U.S. Postal Service (USPS), where

 

 

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1he retired as a foreman after 31 years of service; and
 
2    WHEREAS, During his tenure at the USPS, Theophilus Moore
3was an active member of various unions, including the Congress
4of Industrial Organizations (CIO) and the National Association
5of Postal Supervisors, where he served as branch president
6from 1972 to 1976; he also helped organize the Clerk Craft
7Union at North Suburban; and
 
8    WHEREAS, Theophilus Moore joined St. Mark United Methodist
9Church in 1946, where he was an active with the Usher Board,
10the United Methodist Men, Family Ministries, Veterans Affairs,
11and the Gospel Choir; he was also a member of the International
12Free and Accepted Modern Masons and the Order of the Eastern
13Star; he joined King Hiram Lodge No. 23, where he served as
14secretary, worshipful master, and grand master for the State
15of Illinois; for outstanding service, he was bestowed with the
16honorary Masonic 33rd degree in 1994; and
 
17    WHEREAS, Theophilus Moore was affectionately known as
18"Durock" by family and friends; he was a man of strength,
19character, integrity, and dignity; and
 
20    WHEREAS, Theophilus Moore had three loves of his life and
2110 children; with Helen Williams, he had Diane and Maurice;
22with Mildred Lee Gilmore, he had Michael, Theophilus III,

 

 

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1Milfred, and Marlene; with Dorothy Spann Grigsby, he had
2Torrence, Kawana, Luther, and Darnell; and
 
3    WHEREAS, Theophilus Moore was preceded in death by his
4parents; his siblings, Berniece Boyd, Myrtle Moore, John
5Moore, Luther Moore Sr., Lawrence Moore, and Joseph Moore; his
6son, Theophilus III; and his son-in-law, Loyal Gibson II; and
 
7    WHEREAS, Theophilus Moore is survived by his sister, Wilma
8Reynolds; his children, Mary Preacely (Maurice), Diane Gibson,
9Maurice (Angela), Michael (Dean), Milfred (Alicia), Marlene
10(Patricia), Torrence (Jamie), Kawana, Luther, and Darnell; his
11grandchildren, Brian Gibson (Melissa), Marc Gibson, Maurice,
12Jasper, Michelle Cucuzza (Kevin), Brittany, Michael Jr.,
13DeShun, Darnesha, Jordan, and Cameron; his
14great-grandchildren; his great-great-grandchild; and a host of
15nieces and nephews; therefore, be it
 
16    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL
17ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of
18Theophilus Moore Jr. and extend our sincere condolences to his
19family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it
20further
 
21    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
22presented to the family of Theophilus Moore as an expression

 

 

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1of our deepest sympathy.