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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of
3Representatives are saddened to learn of the death of longtime
4Peoria resident Cleveland "Sonny" Gordon Sr., who passed away
5on April 21, 2021; and
 
6    WHEREAS, Cleveland Gordon Sr. was born in Money,
7Mississippi to Pleasant Gordon Sr. and Mable Banks Gordon;
8early in his life, he moved to Peoria, where he was raised with
9four siblings; and
 
10    WHEREAS, Cleveland Gordon Sr. married Annie Jo Hunter
11Gordon in 1969 and remained married to her until her passing in
122009; and
 
13    WHEREAS, Cleveland Gordon Sr. married Presiding Elder
14Elaine P. Gordon in 2014 and remained married to her until his
15passing; and
 
16    WHEREAS, Cleveland Gordon Sr. was educated in the Peoria
17public school system and attended Illinois Community College,
18taking courses in environmental science; and
 
19    WHEREAS, Cleveland Gordon Sr. worked at Pabst Brewery for
2013 years until the brewery closed in 1981; after 20 years at

 

 

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1the Peoria Disposal Company, he retired as an environmental
2officer; and
 
3    WHEREAS, Cleveland Gordon Sr. was baptized in the creek at
4age nine, was a 60-year member of New Morning Star Missionary
5Baptist Church, and joined Ward Chapel African Methodist
6Episcopal Church in 2014 to serve with his wife; and
 
7    WHEREAS, Cleveland Gordon Sr. served as a faithful trustee
8of Ward Chapel, an active member of the Ministers, Spouses,
9Widow, and Widowers Organization, the Lay Organization, and
10the Sons of Allen; and
 
11    WHEREAS, Cleveland Gordon Sr. was preceded in death by his
12parents, Mabel Banks Gordon and Pleasant Gordon Sr.; his
13siblings, Willie L. Gordon and Pleasant Gordon Jr.; and a son,
14Joel Johnson; and
 
15    WHEREAS, Cleveland Gordon Sr. is survived by his wife,
16Presiding Elder Elaine P. Gordon; his siblings, Georgia Mae
17Little and Sylvester (Roberta) Gordon; his children, Jonathon
18Johnson, Cleveland L. (Jamie) Gordon, Jamal Gordon, Joseph
19Murphy, Howard (Aisha) Walters, Shando Faulkner (Don) Harris,
20Chantay (Corey) Gray, Antoinette (Cornelius) Donald, Shelleye
21Murphy, and Jehan (Derrick) Booth; 17 grandchildren; 11
22great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews; therefore,

 

 

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1be it
 
2    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE
3HUNDRED SECOND GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
4we mourn the passing of Cleveland "Sonny" Gordon Sr., remember
5his faith, commend his service to his community, and extend
6our sincere condolences to his family, friends, and all who
7knew and loved him; and be it further
 
8    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
9presented to the family of Cleveland Gordon Sr. as an
10expression of our deepest sympathy.