SR1460 98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

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SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of John Daniel "J.D." Slater, Sr., who passed away on August 18, 2014; and

WHEREAS, John Slater, Sr. was born on March 8, 1919 in Rolling Fork, Mississippi; his parents were Alex Slater and Antonia Vardaman; he moved to the Waukegan area in 1946; and

WHEREAS, John Slater, Sr. was drafted into the United States Army in 1942 and served in World War II; his company crossed the Rhine River while under heavy air and artillery attack; he also served in France, Belgium, Holland, and other locations in Europe and was one of last few African American World War II veterans still alive in Lake County; he was honorably discharged from the Army after 4 years of service in 1946; and

WHEREAS, John Slater, Sr. retired from American Motors in 1978 after 30 years of service; he went on to become the proprietor of Slater's Barbecue, which was opened on April 11, 1957 on 401 Market Street in Waukegan and closed in 1997; he was known all over the North Shore for his delicious ribs, home-made pork sausages known as the "foot-long", and secret recipe baste and barbecue sauce; and

WHEREAS, John Slater, Sr. accepted Christ at an early age; he later joined Christian Love Baptist Church in Zion under the Leadership of Pastor Norman Taylor and attended church faithfully until his health prevented him from doing so; and

WHEREAS, John Slater, Sr. was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Clifford Daniel (C.D.) Slater; 2 former wives, Cora Lee Slater and Elizabeth Siler-Slater; a daughter-in-law, Sandra Mack; and a son-in-law, Willie Sanders, Jr.; and

WHEREAS, John Slater, Sr. is survived by his loving wife, Maggie; 2 children, Dollie L. Sanders and John D. (Bennie) Slater, Jr.; 2 children he raised as his own, Edith Thomas and Sam (Cesslia) Siler; 4 step-children, Samantha Davis, Seneca Davis, Ronnie Davis, and Cassandra Armstrong; 2 sisters-in-law, Lilly Greer and Annie Wise; his close family friends, Bettie Shellie and Charyle Chambers; 12 grandchildren, Sabrina (Raymond) Smith, Tina (Jeffrey) Harrison, Gary (Pam) Sanders, Trisa Slater, John D. (Angellic) Slater, III, Ramona (Guam) Lee, Kerry Lynn (Anthony) Wynn, Alicia (Al) Wilson, Barry (Kentra) Thomas, Shondra (Wylee) Simmons, and Dionna and Sam Siler, III; a grand-goddaughter, Julia Fears; many great-grandchildren, great-great-grandchildren, nieces, and nephews; his special friends, Raymond (Pete-the-Tramp), Greg Yarbrough, Calvin Watkins, and Roosevelt Allen; and many other close friends; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we, along with his family and friends, mourn the passing of John Daniel "J.D." Slater, Sr.; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of John Slater, Sr. as an expression of our sympathy.