SR0470 95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

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SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of U.S. Army Private DeWayne Lenell White of Country Club Hills, who was killed in action in Bayji, Iraq on December 4, 2007; and

WHEREAS, Private DeWayne Lenell White was born on February 20, 1980 in Chicago; his parents were Lenell White Jr. and Sandra E. Ireland-White; he was baptized on March 20, 1980 at St. Raphael Catholic Church; he married Syneca Beach on February 25, 2007; and

WHEREAS, Private DeWayne White lived at Homestead Air Force Base in Florida until the age of 4, when he and his family moved to Chicago, living in the Englewood community; while in Englewood, he attended St. Raphael Elementary School and Curie High School; and

WHEREAS, When Private DeWayne White's family moved to Country Club Hills during his senior year, he earned his GED and started training to be a welder through the Job Corps; he proceeded to work a series of jobs in Tennessee and Kansas, among other places; and

WHEREAS, Private DeWayne White joined the United States Army in November 2004, along with his brother, DeShaun; he was stationed at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, where he was assigned to the First Battalion, 327th Infantry Regiment, First Brigade Combat Team, of the 101st Airborne Division; in September of 2005, he was sent to Iraq to serve a one-year tour of duty; in September of 2007, he was sent again to serve in Iraq, where he remained until his untimely passing; and

WHEREAS, Private DeWayne White enjoyed dancing, drawing cartoons of hip-hop characters, writing poetry, rapping, and playing pool and Playstation; and

WHEREAS, Private DeWayne White is survived by his wife, Syneca; his mother, Sandra; his step-father, Chester L. Miller Sr.; his father, Lenell White Jr. (Renee); his brothers, DeShaun White, Edwin White, and Chester Miller Jr.; his sisters, Nekita Miller, DeJanee White, and Kimberly Miller-Highsmith; his grandmother, Geneva White; his grandfather, Paul Miller Sr.; his special nieces, Jaida and Makaila; his mother-in-law, Kova Thicklin; his brother-in-law, Seth Beach; and his many other loving relatives and friends; and

WHEREAS, Private DeWayne White will be remembered by all who knew and loved him as a loving, happy person who loved to give what he could to those in need; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn, along with his family and friends, the passing of U.S. Army Private DeWayne Lenell White; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we honor the memory of Private DeWayne Lenell White and his willingness to serve our country which led to him making the ultimate sacrifice; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Private DeWayne Lenell White as an expression of our sympathy.