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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened
3to learn of the death of Thomas "TJ" Lindsey Sewell V, who
4passed away on February 26, 2021; and
 
5    WHEREAS, TJ Sewell was born to Thomas Lindsey Sewell IV
6and Ronita Tubbs-Moore in Cincinnati, Ohio on December 4,
71990; as a child, he joined and regularly attended Greater
8Emmanuel Apostolic Church, Abundant Life Apostolic Church, and
9High Point Christian Tabernacle in Smyrna, Georgia; he
10attended Cincinnati Public Schools and graduated from South
11Cobb High School in Austell, Georgia in 2009; he continued his
12education at Kennesaw State University in Georgia and the
13University of Cincinnati, where he studied business; and
 
14    WHEREAS, In 2005, TJ Sewell worked at a TD Jakes
15Ministries convention as a personal assistant where he met
16Melissa Boston, someone who would act as his mentor throughout
17his life and help him develop his skills and talents; this
18chance encounter led to his eventual position as senior vice
19president of Wakanna for Life, a large and reputable
20minority-owned cannabis/CBD oil company that offers a broad
21spectrum of health and wellness products; he also found
22additional employment that varied from restaurant serving to
23working at the Luxottica Retail North America Headquarters;

 

 

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1and
 
2    WHEREAS, TJ Sewell became a heavily involved board member
3for Cincinnati For Youth Ministries and was an integral part
4in the success of the 2014 Light up the Night fashion show; as
5a response to a calling he felt for mentorship, he established
6a 501(C) foundation called Black Men Vote in 2020; and
 
7    WHEREAS, As an adult, TJ Sewell attended Overflow
8Ministries before he left Ohio and would often return to
9Cincinnati just to visit his church family; throughout his
10life, he remained deeply committed to his faith; and
 
11    WHEREAS, TJ Sewell loved his friends and family and
12cherished the time he could spend with them; he never missed a
13family gathering or reunion and was always present and excited
14for anyone's big moment; he had a big personality, an
15unmistakable laugh, and a strong embrace; he loved to travel
16and have fun with his friends; and
 
17    WHEREAS, TJ Sewell was preceded in death by his maternal
18great-grandfather, Timothy Tubbs; his grandfather, Ronald
19(Lynn Johnson) Tubbs; his great-grandfather, James D. Ficklin
20Sr.; his great-grandmother, Sarah Frances Ficklin; and his
21paternal grandfather, Thomas Lindsey Sewell III; and
 

 

 

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1    WHEREAS, At the time of his passing, TJ Sewell was
2survived by his parents, Thomas (Janae) L. Sewell IV and
3Ronita (Robert) Tubbs-Moore; his maternal grandmother, Yvonne
4"Elove" (Earl) Tubbs; his paternal grandmother, Linda Bea; his
5maternal great-grandmother, Jimmie Dabbs; his brothers,
6Dominick Tubbs, Timothy Tubbs, Brandon Sewell, and Hunter
7Sewell; his sisters, Brittany Tubbs, Nadiya Sewell, and
8Virginia Mundy; his nephews, Brayden Tubbs, Dominick Tubbs
9Jr., and Bryce Bates; his nieces, Leah Sewell, Lauryn Sewell,
10and Ja'Nyla Watkins; his uncles, Ronald Tubbs Jr., Ronnell
11Beech, Christopher (Tiffany) Sewell, Stephen L. Sewell, and
12Keith Moore; his aunts, Keisha Tubbs, Dominique (Antwan)
13Allen, Lynnique Tubbs, Anise Sewell, Danielle Sewell, Dorthea
14Moore, and Theresa Moore; his special godmothers, Kara Graves
15and Christine Moore; his best friend, Dalan Carter; the love
16of his life, Kevorey Hartwell; his special extended mother,
17Melissa (Emil) Boston; brother, Tarique Rodgers; his other
18aunts and uncles; his cousins; and his friends; therefore, be
19it
 
20    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED SECOND GENERAL
21ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of
22Thomas "TJ' Lindsey Sewell V and extend our sincere
23condolences to his family, friends, and all who knew and loved
24him; and be it further
 

 

 

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1    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
2presented to the family of TJ Sewell as an expression of our
3deepest sympathy.