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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to
3learn of the death of Donald Pearson, Sr. of Champaign, who
4passed away on September 2, 2014; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Donald Pearson, Sr. was born in Urbana on January
615, 1943 to Margaret Hite and Onie Pearson, Jr.; he attended
7Champaign Unit 4 schools and took classes at Parkland College;
8he joined the United States Navy at age 17 and married Minnie
9Pearl Hemphill in Champaign on January 3, 1965; and
 
10    WHEREAS, Upon being discharged from the Navy, Donald
11Pearson, Sr. returned to Champaign and worked for the United
12States Postal Service; he then became a professional tradesman
13through the University of Illinois electrical apprentice
14program and quickly ascended through his field, becoming a
15journeyman electrician/sound technician at the U of I; he was
16employed on campus for several decades before retiring in 1994;
17and
 
18    WHEREAS, In recent years, Donald Pearson, Sr. worked part
19time at WBCP radio and owned The Generic DJ professional music
20service; he provided the musical accompaniment for countless
21wedding receptions, fundraisers, parties, picnics, and annual
22events such as the Gamma Upsilon Psi Cotillion and Champaign

 

 

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1Park District Senior Holiday Affair; and
 
2    WHEREAS, Donald Pearson, Sr. loved to play cards and board
3games, watch Fighting Illini athletics, and listen to music; he
4and his wife enjoyed traveling, attending special events, and
5visiting family - in and outside of the continental United
6States; he was a member of Iota Phi Theta Fraternity Inc., the
7International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 601, and
8the William F. Earnest American Legion Post 559; he was also a
9life member of the NAACP of Champaign County; and
 
10    WHEREAS, Donald Pearson, Sr. was preceded in death by his
11father and mother; and
 
12    WHEREAS, Donald Pearson, Sr. is survived by his wife,
13Minnie; daughter, Lucretia (Otis) Williams; son, Donald
14"Deeno" Pearson, Jr.; 3 grandchildren, Brittney Schurvinske,
15Chumar Williams, and Britany Damery; step-father, Earl Smith;
16sister, Susan Smith Ross; goddaughter, Freida Johnson; and many
17siblings-in-law, nieces, nephews, and cousins; therefore, be
18it
 
19    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL
20ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of
21Donald Pearson, Sr., and extend our sincere condolences to his
22family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it

 

 

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1further
 
2    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
3presented to the family of Donald Pearson, Sr. as an expression
4of our deepest sympathy.