SR0859 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0859 LRB103 39430 ECR 69619 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Joshua Cornelius Alexander Sr. of Chicago, who passed away on January 28, 2024; and

WHEREAS, Joshua Alexander was born to Victoria Wright Alexander in Chicago on April 22, 1987; he committed to his faith at an early age, attending Calvary Missionary Baptist Church and then Christ Universal Temple, where he was active in the Sunday school, later becoming a Sunday school teacher, and was a member of the Youth Expressing Christ, the media team, the April Birth Month, and the Healthy Concept groups; he graduated from Harvard School in 2001 and Hales Franciscan High School in 2006, where he was a member of the bowling team and the track team; he attended Columbia College Chicago; and

WHEREAS, Joshua Alexander contributed his audiovisual technical skills to many cultural and commercial projects throughout Chicago; he worked and volunteered as a theater tech, greeter, museum store clerk, and an educational tour guide at the DuSable Museum of African American History; he interned at the Black Theater Ensemble, where he further developed his audiovisual and acting skills; he worked as a special assistant to Don Jackson for the Bud Billiken Parade and the Chicago Football Classic for Central City Productions; he also served as an assistant track coach at the University of Chicago Lab School; he recently aided in developing the National Museum of Gospel Music; and

WHEREAS, Joshua Alexander was extremely proud of serving as a pastoral escort for Rev. Dr. Johnnie Colemon and being given the opportunity to meet President Barack Obama in the Oval Office at the White House during his first term in office; he had a lifelong association with the Rainbow PUSH Coalition; he was part of Bill Pinkney's Amistad ship crew during its visit to Navy Pier in 2011; he was frequently involved with advocating and supporting African American museums and cultural industries; and

WHEREAS, Joshua Alexander loved bowling, and he was recently selected to represent his bowling league at the Beat the Champs charity bowling event; he also danced and drummed for the Muntu Dance Theatre; and

WHEREAS, Joshua Alexander enjoyed cooking and mastered many crafts by participating in his family's business, HerVel's Unlimited Ceramics Arts and Crafts; he also enjoyed traveling, visiting Africa at age 12 and bringing home his first drum; he loved playing the drums, a passion he recently started sharing with his son; and

WHEREAS, Joshua Alexander was a devoted father who never knew a stranger and welcomed everyone with love; and

WHEREAS, Joshua Alexander was preceded in death by his parents; his grandfather, Herman Wright; and his aunt, Loretta Johnson; and

WHEREAS, Joshua Alexander is survived by his son, Joshua C. Alexander Jr.; his grandmother, Velma Wright; his aunt, Antoinette Wright; his cousins, Mekeda (Kevin) Johnson Brooks, Jasmin Brooks, Christopher Wallace, Marcus Mays, and Gail Crummie Washington; his special person, Tatiana Kilpatrick; and many other relatives, friends, and colleagues; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Joshua Cornelius Alexander Sr. 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 Joshua Alexander as an expression of our deepest sympathy.