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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened
3to learn of the death of Thomas Lindsey "TJ" Sewell V, who
4passed away on February 26, 2021; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Thomas Sewell V was born in Cincinnati, Ohio to
6Thomas Lindsey Sewell IV and Ronita Tubbs-Moore on December 4,
71990; he attended Cincinnati Public Schools, where he earned
8numerous academic achievements; he graduated from South Cobb
9High School in Austell, Georgia in 2009; he continued his
10education at Kennesaw State University in Georgia and the
11University of Cincinnati, where he studied business; and
 
12    WHEREAS, Thomas Sewell V was recognized for his gift of
13gab and his diligence by Melissa Boston at the TD Jakes
14Convention in 2005, where he was a personal assistant; over
15the next 15 years, he received business mentoring from her,
16which led him to becoming the senior vice president of the
17minority-owned, cannabis/CBD oil company WaKanna for Life; and
 
18    WHEREAS, Due to his extreme work ethic over the years,
19Thomas Sewell V found additional employment opportunities that
20varied from restaurant serving to working at Luxottica
21Retail's North America headquarters; and
 

 

 

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1    WHEREAS, Thomas Sewell V was committed to mentoring others
2and giving back to his community; he served as a board member
3for Cincinnati For Youth Ministries; he played an integral
4part in the success of the Light Up the Night charity fashion
5show in 2014; he founded the 501(C) foundation Black Men Vote
6in 2020; and
 
7    WHEREAS, Thomas Sewell V committed to his faith at an
8early age at the P.A.W. Convention in Cincinnati, Ohio in
92000; as a child, he joined and attended the Greater Emmanuel
10Apostolic Church in Cincinnati, the Abundant Life Apostolic
11Church in Cincinnati, and the High Point Christian Tabernacle
12in Smyrna, Georgia; as an adult, he attended Overflow
13Ministries before leaving Ohio; he often returned to
14Cincinnati to visit his church family; and
 
15    WHEREAS, Thomas Sewell V served his family with his
16constant presence and his love; he celebrated everyone's big
17moments and never missed attending a family gathering,
18reunion, or event where he was able to spend quality time with
19his family and friends; he attended to the needs of his
20grandmother and great-grandmother while they were ill and
21recovering from surgery; he was committed to supporting his
22nieces and nephews; and
 
23    WHEREAS, Thomas Sewell V was known for his laugh, his

 

 

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1strong embrace, his faithfulness, and his selflessness; he
2loved traveling and having fun with his friends; he will be
3remembered as the sunshine that lightened any dark days that
4his family and friends may have encountered; he will be missed
5by many; and
 
6    WHEREAS, Thomas Sewell V was preceded in death by his
7maternal great-grandfather, Timothy Tubbs; his grandfather,
8Ronald Tubbs (Lynn Johnson, living); his great-grandfather,
9James D. Ficklin Sr.; his great-grandmother, Sarah Frances
10Ficklin; and his paternal grandfather, Thomas Lindsey Sewell
11III; and
 
12    WHEREAS, Thomas Sewell V is survived by his parents,
13Thomas L. Sewell IV (Janae) and Ronita Tubbs-Moore (Robert);
14his maternal grandmother, Yvonne "Elove" Tubbs (Earl); his
15paternal grandmother, Linda Bea; his maternal
16great-grandmother, Jimmie Dabbs; his brothers, Dominick Tubbs,
17Timothy Tubbs, Brandon Sewell, and Hunter Sewell; his sisters,
18Brittany Tubbs, Nadiya Sewell, and Virginia Mundy; his
19nephews, Brayden Tubbs, Dominick Tubbs Jr., and Bryce Bates;
20his nieces, Leah Sewell, Lauryn Sewell, and Ja'Nyla Watkins;
21his uncles, Ronald Tubbs Jr., Ronnell Beech, Christopher
22Sewell (Tiffany), Stephen L. Sewell, and Keith Moore; his
23aunts, Keisha Tubbs, Dominique Allen (Antwan), Lynnique Tubbs,
24Anise Sewell, Danielle Sewell, Dorthea Moore, and Theresa

 

 

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1Moore; his special godmothers, Kara Graves and Christine
2Moore; his best friend, Dalan Carter; the love of his life,
3Kevorey Hartwell; his extended mother, Melissa Boston (Emil);
4his extended brother, Tarique Rodgers; and a host of other
5aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends; therefore, be it
 
6    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED SECOND GENERAL
7ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of
8Thomas Lindsey "TJ" Sewell V and extend our sincere
9condolences to his family, friends, and all who knew and loved
10him; and be it further
 
11    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
12presented to the family of Thomas Sewell V as an expression of
13our deepest sympathy.