SR1188 101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR1188 LRB101 20895 LAW 70797 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of John Henry Crawford Jr. of Oak Park, who passed away on February 1, 2020; and

WHEREAS, John Crawford Jr. was born in Round Pond, Arkansas to John Henry and Essie Crawford on July 8, 1939; he was the oldest of fourteen children; he graduated from Paul Laurence Dunbar High School in Chicago; he later joined the U.S. Army, where he became a medic and received honors; and

WHEREAS, John Crawford Jr. married Beulah White in 1961; together, they had five children, Jonathan T. Crawford, Zina (James) Crawford-Lott, Yvonne C. (Archie) Burston, Malcolm S. (Stacia) Crawford, and Cheryle (Ujana) Robinson; he also had two other sons, LeJon Crawford and Vernon Crawford; and

WHEREAS, John Crawford Jr. was nicknamed "Big John"; he was known as one of the four founders of the West Side Organization (WSO), which advocated on behalf of the black community for civil rights in the early 1960s; he organized many meaningful marches, meetings, and events, which led him to be asked to protect Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. while he was in Chicago; and

WHEREAS, John Crawford Jr. committed to his faith at an early age and was licensed to minister in the early 1970s; he created F.A.I.T.H., INC., an advocacy organization for the rights of ex-offenders in 1987; and

WHEREAS, John Crawford Jr. met Patty Stewart in 1993, and they were married in 1995; they had five children, Djwan, Jackie, Leah, Ziara (Ted) Copper, and Jonathan McDonald; their family grew to include 25 grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren, with one more expected soon, one great-great-grandson, and two godsons, Derrick Reeves and Solomon Robinson; and

WHEREAS, John Crawford Jr. was preceded in death by his son, Djwan; his brothers Vernon, Herman, Lester, Harold, Menard, and Cordell Crawford; and his sister, Carolyn (Henry) Johnson; and

WHEREAS, John Crawford Jr. is survived by his loving wife of 25 years, Patty Crawford; his brothers, Arnold (Beatrice) and Kenneth (Vinnie) Crawford; his sisters, Dorothy, Erna (Henry), Cheryle (Jesse), and Joan (Johnnie); his brother-in-law, Thomas Stewart; his sister-in-law, Irma (Grant) Dobson; his sons and daughters; and his many special nieces, nephews, cousins, friends, and loved ones; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of John Henry Crawford Jr. and extend our sincere condolences to his family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of John Crawford Jr. as an expression of our deepest sympathy.