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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened
3to learn of the death of Aréanah M. Preston; and
 
4    WHEREAS, Aréanah Preston was born in Las Vegas, Nevada to
5Dionne and Allen Preston on June 7, 1998; after her parents
6divorced, her mother married Terrance Mhoon, who was proud to
7take on the role of father; she attended the Robert A. Black
8Magnet Elementary School, where she excelled academically and
9graduated with honors in 2012; she attended UIC College Prep
10High School, where she continued to flourish scholastically
11and developed a great love for cheerleading; she graduated
12from UIC College Preparatory High School in 2016 and enrolled
13in Illinois State University; she joined The Women of
14Enlightenment Chapter of the National Association of Colored
15Women's Club; she studied abroad in Germany, and it was her
16dream to work in the area of forensics science; she received
17her Bachelor of Science in Criminology and Criminal Justice in
182019; and
 
19    WHEREAS, Aréanah Preston joined the Chicago Police
20Department in May of 2021; she continued her education,
21earning her Master of Jurisprudence degree, with a
22concentration in Child and Family Law from Loyola University;
23on May 13, 2023, her family attended Loyola University's

 

 

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1graduation ceremony and accepted her degree posthumously; and
 
2    WHEREAS, Aréanah Preston was a volunteer for the Leukemia
3Research Foundation, working to raise funds and bring
4awareness and support to the families of Leukemia patients;
5and
 
6    WHEREAS, Aréanah Preston was affectionately known as
7"Bae", "Nani", "Re'Re", "Captain", "Seester", "Aré", and
8"Officer"; her affectionate spirit spoke volumes, and she had
9a sense of humor that was second to none; she never met a
10stranger, and her outgoing character, appealing smile, and
11extraordinary ability to connect with people made everyone she
12encountered feel comfortable and at ease; she lived her life
13to the fullest, often traveling with family and friends; she
14deeply enjoyed celebrating weddings, graduations, and
15holidays; and
 
16    WHEREAS, Aréanah Preston's superpower was laughter, and
17she was eager to share that with each person she knew or just
18met; she loved sunflowers, which symbolize happiness,
19optimism, honesty, longevity, peace, admiration, and devotion,
20all of the qualities that encapsulate who she was as a
21daughter, sister, cousin, and friend; and
 
22    WHEREAS, Aréanah Preston had an incredible love for

 

 

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1cooking and an insatiable appetite for seafood; eating,
2especially seafood boils, and reading James Baldwin novels
3were two of her favorite pastimes; she enjoyed shopping and
4was an avid collector of fashionable gym shoes; she amassed an
5unimaginable amount of stylish gym shoes and, at any given
6time, you could find her dancing and singing about her latest
7purchase; and
 
8    WHEREAS, Aréanah Preston was preceded in death by her
9grandmother, Jeanette Myers, and Virginia Thatch and Edward
10Preston; and
 
11    WHEREAS, Aréanah Preston is survived by her mother and
12stepfather, Dionne and Terrance Mhoon; her sisters, Amiyah and
13Amyrah; her uncle, Christopher (Adriana) Williams; her PaPa;
14her Big, Bria from NACWC and childhood friend, Trenise; DJ
15(CPD Partner); her Chicago Police Department family; her bonus
16sisters, Aa'jah, Paa'shion, and Tia; her aunt, Sonia (John);
17her biological father, Allen Preston; her paternal aunt,
18Anjela; her special cousins, Jru and Madison; and numerous
19cousins, aunts, uncles, bonus family members, and friends;
20therefore, be it
 
21    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL
22ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of
23Aréanah M. Preston and extend our sincere condolences to her

 

 

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1family, friends, and all who knew and loved her; and be it
2further
 
3    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
4presented to the family of Aréanah Preston as an expression of
5our deepest sympathy.