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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened
3to learn of the death of Auxiliary Bishop Napoleon "Bill"
4Harris Sr.; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Bishop Harris was born to Frank Harris and Idella
6Brown in Jackson, Mississippi on December 13, 1935; at a young
7age, he was affectionately called "Billbo" by an aunt, and his
8nickname was eventually shortened to "Bill"; he moved to
9Chicago at eight years old; he received his primary education
10within the Chicago Public Schools system; he attended DuSable
11High School, where he excelled in his studies and was a cross
12country runner on the track team; and
 
13    WHEREAS, Bishop Harris left high school early to join the
14U.S. Air Force during the Korean War; he had one child before
15he was stationed in Alaska for two and a half years; during his
16service, he completed his high school studies and attended the
17University of Alaska in Anchorage; he joined the Church of God
18in Christ (COGIC); he then married Barbara Stephen, and their
19union had five children; he concluded his military service
20after approximately four years; and
 
21    WHEREAS, To provide for his growing family, Bishop Harris
22worked at the U.S. Post Office, The Western Electric Company

 

 

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1as a machine operator, a flour factory, a cab company as a
2chauffeur, the Central Wax Paper Company, and the Chicago
3Transit Authority (CTA) as a bus driver, occasionally working
4two jobs; he also continued to pursue his education, enrolling
5at the Dunbar Vocational High School to pursue a degree in
6Design and Tailoring; and
 
7    WHEREAS, Bishop Harris began a new chapter in his life,
8marrying Sherelene A. Robinson on February 7, 1966, and their
9union had two children; he became community minded and was
10involved in the civil rights movement; he earned his
11bachelor's degree in Business Administration from Roosevelt
12University while simultaneously working several managerial
13positions for Department of Labor and the Department of Mental
14Health at Madden Mental Health Center in Hines; he was
15eventually promoted as director of the Rehabilitation Workshop
16Programs; and
 
17    WHEREAS, Bishop Harris went on to obtain two master's
18degrees in Public Administration and Theology Studies; he was
19a civil servant for 30 years and concluded his tenure with the
20State of Illinois as a regional business manager; upon being
21awarded his master's degree in Public Administration, he
22joined forces with the University of Illinois Hospital as a
23health center and hospital administrator; and
 

 

 

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1    WHEREAS, Bishop Harris pursued his theology studies at the
2Moody Baptist Institute–Chicago and the Logos Graduate College
3in New York; he was ordained in 1974; he was also an avid
4worker in the Jurisdictional Sunday School Department; he was
5affiliated with The Reed's Temple COGIC, Penson Temple COGIC,
6and Tabernacle COGIC before becoming a pastor in 1979; and
 
7    WHEREAS, Bishop Harris established The Community COGIC in
81979; along with his wife, Sherelene, they overcame racial
9barriers, threats, and vandalism as the founders of the first
10Black church in the Village of Hazel Crest; their church
11remained in Hazel Crest for 27 years until it was moved to a
12much larger property in Hammond, Indiana in 2007; and
 
13    WHEREAS, Bishop Harris' service extended beyond his local
14church; he was appointed as a district superintendent and an
15administrative assistant by Prelate Ocie Booker; he was
16recommended for elevation to the episcopacy by Bishop Booker
17in 2018; he was consecrated as an auxiliary bishop at the COGIC
18Holy Convocation in St. Louis, Missouri in 2019; he also
19served as a father figure to many young elders in First
20Jurisdiction Illinois; and
 
21    WHEREAS, Bishop Harris enjoyed traveling and loved
22celebrating his children's successes and contributions to
23humanity; he will be remembered as a community leader, an

 

 

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1advocate for education, and a man of faith; and
 
2    WHEREAS, Bishop Harris was preceded in death by his
3parents; his brother, Sylvester Collins; his son, Napoleon
4Harris Jr.; and his grandson, Shannon Smith; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Bishop Harris is survived by his wife of 57
6years, Sherelene A. Harris; his children, Jamal (Gloria)
7Akbar, Arlene Little, Derrick Harris, Keith (Vonda) Harris,
8Steven (Evelyn) Harris, Jeraldyne (Anthony) Harris-Stimage,
9and Jarrett (Joy) Harris; his daughter-in-law, Brenda Harris;
10his bonus children, Charletta Little, Willa (Zachary)
11Knighton, Mario Little, and Marco Little; his grandchildren,
12Darell Hann, Jamil Hann, Jamal Akbar Jr., Jamillah Ellis,
13Antonio Harris, Fernando Little, Reginald Little, Lonniece
14Boone, Khiesha Boone, Shikar Boone, State Senator Napoleon B.
15(Nicole) Harris III, Tomeika Anderson, Asia Thurston, Jonathan
16Harris, Keisha Owens, Derek Hudson, Steven Harris Jr., Jonas
17Harris, Quintin Harris, Ikea Harris, Marvin Simpson, Chariti
18Phillips, and Hope Harris; his great-grandchildren; his
19great-great grandchildren; his sister, Idella "Adell" Brown,
20his sons in faith; his nieces, nephews, and cousins; his
21friends; and his congregation of 42 years, The Community
22COGIC; therefore, be it
 
23    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL

 

 

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1ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of
2Auxiliary Bishop Napoleon "Bill" Harris Sr. and extend our
3sincere condolences to his family, friends, and all who knew
4and loved him; and be it further
 
5    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
6presented to the family of Bishop Harris as an expression of
7our deepest sympathy.