SR0206 101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0206 LRB101 11287 ALS 56668 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Genevieve Range Brown, who passed away on February 12, 2019; and

WHEREAS, Genevieve Brown was born to Charles and Estella Evans on December 22, 1938; she committed to her faith and began her Christian ministry as a Sunday school teacher; her love for teaching grew, and she eventually served as a vacation bible school director, a Sunday school superintendent, a SpiritLed Women director, and a Bible study leader; she was ordained into the gospel ministry on May 16, 1993; and

WHEREAS, Genevieve Brown was the first African American cheerleader at Joliet Township High School and the first African American woman to run for the school board in Joliet; in the 1970s, she became the first African American female wrestling referee in the State of Illinois; and

WHEREAS, Genevieve Brown was an advocate for all; she created the Genevieve Brown Scholarship for high school teen mothers; she volunteered at the Salvation Army, read to children at the local school, and served as the president of the PTA and the band boosters; after her first heart bypass surgery, she founded the support group Mended Hearts; for the last three years, she was a member of Leap of Faith Ministries under the leadership of her oldest son; and

WHEREAS, Genevieve Brown received many awards for her community work, including the Joliet NAACP Phenomenal Women Award, the Woman of Distinction Award from the Midwest Christian Women's Conference, the Vivian Pennymon Community Service Award from the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, and the Community Service Award from the National Hook-Up of Black Women; she was also recognized by Mothers Against Gangs; and

WHEREAS, Genevieve Brown was preceded in death by her parents and her siblings, Charles Evans Jr. and Ethel Mae Bankston; and

WHEREAS, Genevieve Brown is survived by her children, Bishop-Elect Steven (Alicia) Evans, R. Dale (Valerie) Evans, Dr. Tammy (Willie) Alexander, Rhonda (Neal) Lockhart, and Elder David (Sidonia) Range; her sister-in-love, Margaret Lively; her godchildren, DonnaRae Spivey, Troy Cicero Jr., Taylor Cicero, and Kemyra Genny-Johnay Davis; her cousins, friends, and the next generation of trailblazers, servant leaders, and community advocates; her 16 grandchildren; her 20 great-grandchildren; and her two great-great-grandchildren; 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 Genevieve Range Brown and extend our sincere condolences to her family, friends, and all who knew and loved her; and be it further

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