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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened
3to learn of the death of Lawrence Clifford "LC" Owens of
4Urbana, who passed away on May 28, 2023; and
 
5    WHEREAS, LC Owens was born to Curnetus Owens and Audra
6McLaurin in McGee, Mississippi on October 26, 1947; he
7attended Urbana High School, where he played football and was
8a part of the team that won the 1964 Big 12 Championship; he
9married Del Elaine in June 1992; and
 
10    WHEREAS, Beginning in 1970, LC Owens worked for the
11University of Illinois, serving as a storekeeper before being
12promoted to locksmith; he received one of the university's
13most prestigious honors, the Chancellor's Distinguished Staff
14Award, in 1999; after 32 and a half years of dedicated service,
15he retired in 2002; that same year, he began his career at
16Owens Family Day Care Connections, volunteering the first 16
17years as executive chief, transportation, and lead positive
18behavior reinforcement specialist; and
 
19    WHEREAS, LC Owens was deeply involved in his community; he
20served as a boys' basketball coach in Urbana and was a youth
21football coach for over 20 years; he was a member of the Hall
22of Fame Committee for Urbana High School; he was the first to

 

 

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1volunteer to cook for family gatherings, special programs, and
2meetings at Salem, and he previously worked with both Carle
3and Provena hospitals to prepare meals; he and his wife were
4named "honorary chefs" by the PTA of King Elementary School;
5and
 
6    WHEREAS, LC Owens was baptized and committed to his faith
7at an early age; he attended Salem Baptist Church, where he
8served in a plethora of church ministries, including being
9past president of the Usher Board and president of Laymen
10Ministries, assisting with the Grandma Soup Kitchen, and being
11a member of the Culinary Committee and the Men's Choir; he also
12delivered bread weekly to various community members and
13nonprofit organizations for over 25 years; and
 
14    WHEREAS, LC Owens was honored by the National Council of
15African American Men (NCAAM) when he received its Community
16Service Humanitarian Award in 1998; he and his wife were
17honored as Foster Parents of the Year in 2000; and
 
18    WHEREAS, LC Owens was known for his affable, humorous,
19humble, patient, and wise personality; he found passion in
20cooking, duty, and service; he encouraged others, especially
21young, Black boys, to always strive toward obtaining more
22knowledge; he will be remembered as a devoted husband, father,
23brother, uncle, grandfather, great-grandfather, godfather, and

 

 

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1mentor; and
 
2    WHEREAS, LC Owens is survived by his wife, Del Elaine
3Wilson-Owens; his daughters, Myles (Alexander) Owens, Lucinda
4(Glenn Sr.) Smith, and Yolanda Wilson; his son, Steven
5Thompson; his sisters, Martha Owens, Mary Huff, Mamie
6(William) Kindle, the Rev. Linda Diane Owens, and Molly Sue
7Davis; eight godchildren; 18 grandchildren; 16
8great-grandchildren; and his friends, Bob Ward, Evelyn
9Hickman, Arthalia Rogers, Dorothy Carter, and Benita
10Rollins-Gay; therefore, be it
 
11    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL
12ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of
13Lawrence Clifford "LC" Owens and extend our sincere
14condolences to his family, friends, and all who knew and loved
15him; and be it further
 
16    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
17presented to the family of LC Owens as an expression of our
18deepest sympathy.