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SENATE RESOLUTION


 
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    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to  
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learn of the death of
Curtis Stokes Jr., who passed away on 
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January 13, 2008; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Curtis Stokes Jr. was born on May 8, 1936 in 
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Helena, Arkansas; he was the second of three children born to 
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Curtis Stokes Sr. and Mildred J. Hodges; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Curtis Stokes Jr. confessed his faith in Christ at 
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an early age; he later became a member of St. Carthage Catholic 
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Church; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Curtis Stokes Jr. received his education in the 
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Chicago Public School system and was a member of the 1950 
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DuSable High School graduating class; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Curtis Stokes Jr. served his country with 
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distinction as a member of the United States Air Force and USAF 
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Reserve from 1955 until 1962; after his honorable discharge 
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from the Air Force, he attended Wilson Junior College; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Curtis Stokes Jr. was a loyal employee of the 
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United States Post Office for several years; after resigning 
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from the Post Office, he became an entrepreneur; for the last 
 


 






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17 years of his life, he served as an employee of the Chicago 
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Public School system, where he was assigned to Dunbar High 
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School as a Guidance Counselor's Assistant; he also served as 
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the coach of the girl's softball team, where he was fondly 
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referred to as "Stokes"; he eventually ascended to the position 
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of Chief Security Officer at Dunbar, the school he referred to 
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as "his" school; and
 
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    WHEREAS, Curtis Stokes Jr. loved his home, which served as 
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a gathering place on any given day and was referred to as "The 
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Little House on the Prairie"; he enjoying exploring the 
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culinary arts, taking his family on vacations, fishing for his 
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annual October Fish Fry, reading, and spending quality time 
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with his many loved ones; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Curtis Stokes Jr. was preceded in death by his 
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parents and his brother, Willie Morris; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Curtis Stokes Jr. is survived by his loving wife, 
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Brenda; his endearing sons, Durante (Debra) and Derrick 
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(Jermaise); his doting sister, Ollie (Nelson) McLemore; his 
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adoring grandchildren, Durante, Nicole, Dominique, and Derrick 
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Tyler; his grandson, Donzell Stokes; his dedicated uncle, James 
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Hodges; his special cousin, Patricia Nelson; and his many 
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nieces, nephews, cousins, relatives, colleagues, co-workers, 
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and friends; therefore, be it

 
 


 






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    RESOLVED, BY THE  SENATE OF THE NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL 
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ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn, along with 
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his family and friends, the passing of Curtis Stokes Jr.; and 
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be it further

 
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    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
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presented to the family of Curtis Stokes Jr. as an expression 
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of our sympathy.