SR0722 93RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0722 LRB093 23827 CSA 53867 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Senate of the State of Illinois learned with sadness of the death of Reverend Larry D. Hodge of Sugar Grove on October 12, 2004; and

WHEREAS, He was born December 22, 1943 in Norfolk, Virginia, the son of Durward and Martha Hodge; he was the Senior Pastor of Orchard Valley Community Church (formerly Aurora First Assembly of God) in Aurora for the past 27 years; and

WHEREAS, His ministry did not end at the sanctuary door; his mission and his vision for his life was to reach out and connect with non-church people; and

WHEREAS, In 1991, he became one of Aurora's police department's chaplains, alternately counseling officers and victims' families through the stress of violence and crime; race, social status, and religious or political affiliation did not matter to him; he worked to change the climate by bringing ex-gang members to speak at East Aurora High School and helped to start the Warehouse Church in Aurora; and

WHEREAS, The passing of Reverend Larry D. Hodge will be felt by all who knew and loved him, especially his wife of 38 years, Loudene Hodge; his mother, Martha Hodge; his brother, Russell and Karlene Hodge; his sister, Judy and Bob Kerico; his son and daughter-in-law, Scott and Amanda Hodge; his daughter and son-in-law, Kellie and Thomas Reinke; his grandchildren, Ian Thomas Reinke, Elise Lee Hodge, and Julia Mei Hodge; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that together with his family, friends, and members of his church and community, we mourn the death of Reverend Larry D. Hodge, who will be remembered for his laugh, priceless smile, words of wisdom, and most of all, his talks about God's extravagant love; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Reverend Larry D. Hodge as an expression of our deepest sympathy.