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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

  
 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to 
3learn of the death of  Leroy W. "Sonny" Jackson, who passed away 
4on April 10, 2015; and
  
 
5    WHEREAS, Sonny Jackson was born on October 25, 1943 to the 
6late Andrew Jackson and Florence Walker in Hammonds, Louisiana; 
7he was the eldest of 4 children; he attended grammar school in 
8Markham and high school at Thorton Township, where he was the 
9star of the football team; and
  
 
10    WHEREAS, Sonny Jackson was a trained and skilled glazier 
11for over 40 years, thanks to his father who owned a glass 
12company on the west side of Chicago; he also worked as a 
13glazier for the Chicago Housing Authority and the HT Glass 
14Company; and
  
 
15    WHEREAS, Sonny Jackson had a daughter, April, from his 
16first marriage; he later married Jean Jackson in 1979; by 
17marrying Jean, he became a father to John and Tony Jones; and
  
 
18    WHEREAS, Sonny Jackson and his wife founded the non-profit 
19organization "Eyes on Austin" on Chicago's far west side in 
201999, an achievement that stood out as his proudest 
21accomplishment; he worked tirelessly at Eyes on Austin, 
 
 
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1training future craftsmen in various job training programs and 
2leading Austin's Labor of Love, an annual volunteer event to 
3repair the homes of those in need in the Austin community; and
  
 
4    WHEREAS, Sonny Jackson loved returning to Louisiana, which 
5he did as often as he could; family reunions were one of his 
6favorite things; in his later years, he enjoyed watching 
7westerns with his wife and his beloved cat, Levi, who was 
8always by his side; and
 
9    WHEREAS, Sonny Jackson was preceded in death by his 
10parents; his stepmother, Olivia Jackson; a brother, Jimmie; a 
11stepsister, Mary; and a stepson, John Jones; and
  
 
12    WHEREAS, Sonny Jackson is survived by his beloved wife of 
1335 years, Jean; his daughter, April; his stepson, Tony; his 
14sister, Vivian (Joseph); his stepsisters, Joyce and Lois; his 
15stepbrothers, Michael and Derrick; his grandchildren, Marissa 
16and Maurice Jones; his in-laws, Sharon Franklin and Donald 
17McNeal; and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends; 
18therefore, be it
  
 
19    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-NINTH GENERAL 
20ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we, along with his 
21family and friends, mourn the passing of Leroy W. "Sonny" 
22Jackson; and be it further
  
 
 
 
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1    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
2presented to the family of Sonny Jackson as an expression of 
3our sympathy.