SR0430 94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0430 LRB094 14581 AMC 49524 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate were saddened to learn of the death of Minister Derrick Voncell Jackson on Thursday, September 15, 2005; and

WHEREAS, Derrick Jackson was born in St. Louis, Missouri on February 27, 1952 to Mrs. Nannilee Jackson Mackey and was raised in East St. Louis, Illinois; and

WHEREAS, At 6 years of age, Derrick Jackson accepted Christ as his personal Savior and Lord at the Mount Pisgah Missionary Baptist Church and was baptized by his grandfather, Reverend Robert B. Lyles; he was very active in the church, where he served as president of the Junior Usher Board and music director of the Junior and Senior Male Choruses and was a member of the Young Adult Choir, the Sunday School, and the Baptist Training Union; and

WHEREAS, Derrick Jackson graduated from East St. Louis Senior High School in June of 1970; after graduation, he worked as a driver for District #189 Media Center and then trained as a police cadet; in 1973, he was appointed police officer for the City of East St. Louis; in 1976, he began a 29-year career in tractor-trailer operations, and subsequently relocated to Phoenix, Arizona, where he attended Arizona College of the Bible and earned dual bachelor's degrees in elementary education and bible studies; and

WHEREAS, Derrick Jackson accepted God's call to the preaching ministry at the Pilgrim Rest Missionary Baptist Church, and was licensed to preach on November 11, 1981; He was ordained on December 30, 1990 at the Ebenezer Missionary Baptist Church, where he served several years as Associate Minister and Director of Evangelism; Derrick Jackson excelled in the area of evangelism and continuously sought opportunities to share the gospel of Christ, either in the church or while driving his truck; and

WHEREAS, Derrick Jackson and Geni Vernia Bellamy Farmer were united in holy matrimony on August 2, 1982; he and his wife returned to East St. Louis, where he became the Pastor of Mount Pisgah Missionary Baptist Church; he later became a member of the Unity Lutheran Church, where he was a member until his death; and

WHEREAS, The passing of Minister Derrick Voncell Jackson has been deeply felt by many, especially his wife, Geni V. Jackson; his stepfather, William Mackey; his daughters, Lisa Jackson, Pamela (Michael) Jones, Antoinette (Reverend Terry) Marks; his sons, Eric (Cametha) Collins, Derrick (Theresa) Jackson, Jr., and Darrell Farmer; his sisters, Faye Poe, Rosie (Dale) Atkins, and Lucretia McAdoo; his brothers, Robert Jackson, Reverend Ambrose (Lorraine) Jackson, Larry (Debra) Anderson, William (Tracy) Anderson, and Curtis (Paula) Anderson; his sisters-in-law, Marion (Reverend Wesley) Jones, Charlee (Richard) Johnson, and Bernice Bellamy (Nino Fennoy); his brother-in-law, Jesse Bryant, Jr.; his aunt, Irene Pounds; his 8 grandchildren; his nieces, nephews, and cousins; and many other relatives and friends; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Minister Derrick Voncell Jackson, and we 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 his family as an expression of our deepest sympathy.