SR0738 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0738 LRB096 21784 KXB 39674 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of James E. Peeples of Peoria, who passed away on March 18, 2010; and

WHEREAS, He was born December 20, 1913, in Buena Vista, Georgia, to Greely and Zula (Jones) Peeples; he married Mary Frances on August 8, 1940, in Burlington, Iowa; and

WHEREAS, He worked for the city of Peoria, retiring in 1983 as director of human relations in the Department of Human Resources; he also retired after 53 years of service as owner and operator of the Drapery House in Peoria; and

WHEREAS, As a civil rights leader for many years, he was inducted into the Peoria African-American Hall of Fame and served on numerous committees, including the NAACP, Peoria City Council, Tri-County Urban League, Agency on Aging, American Civil Liberties Union, and many more; and

WHEREAS, He had 61 years of dedicated service to the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity and received many awards for his service in the Peoria community, including the Dr. Martin Luther King Award, the Governor's Award for Unique Achievement, an Award for the Chairman of the Peoria Economic Association, the Bob Horan Community Service Award, the Pope John Paul Award, the Sam Belfer Civil Libertarian Award, the Tri-County Urban League Service and Recognition Award, and the 2000 Alpha Phi Alpha Man of the Year Award; he received many more awards for his work in the community and his continued effort to improve race relations; and

WHEREAS, He was an active member of the Ward Chapel AME Church; and

WHEREAS, He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife of 65 years; his son, Steven; his daughter, Paula Frances; his brothers, Horace, Robert, Arvora and Grady; and his sisters, Willa Mae Johnson and Ocie Peeples; and

WHEREAS, James Peeples is survived by his seven daughters, Berdean (Tony) Simmons, Susan Slaughter, Mary Anne (Steven) Fuller, Theresa (Tommy) Randolph, Rose Peeples, Judy (Tim) Sturdivant, and Kayla Johnson; his five sons, James Jr., David, Martin, Lester (Peggy) Peeples, and John Peeples; his 22 grandchildren; and his 17 great-grandchildren; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn, along with his family and friends, the passing of James Peeples; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of James Peeples as a symbol of our sincere sympathy.