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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to
3learn of the death of Reverend Dr. Leon Dorsey Finney Jr., who
4passed away on September 4, 2020; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Dr. Leon Finney was born to Leon Dorsey Sr. and
6Adline Jones Finney in Louise, Mississippi on July 7, 1938; he
7moved to Chicago at a young age and graduated from Hyde Park
8Academy High School in 1957; he attended the University of
9Illinois and then enlisted in the United States Marine Corps,
10where he served as a military police officer and worked in
11counterintelligence; he later earned post-baccalaureate
12degrees in economics, urban community development, theological
13studies, and public administration from Goddard College,
14McCormick Theological Seminary, and Nova University,
15respectively; and
 
16    WHEREAS, After a short career in banking and finance, Dr.
17Leon Finney found his greatest joy was serving his community;
18he trained in the art of community organizing and was recruited
19to work for the Woodlawn Organization; he would later be named
20as the executive director of the organization and then
21president and fought tirelessly to revitalize urban
22communities; he also taught at various colleges and
23universities, including the University of Chicago, the

 

 

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1Lutheran School of Theology, the University of Illinois,
2Northwestern University, the Presbyterian College of Korea,
3and the Theological College of the Bahamas; and
 
4    WHEREAS, Dr. Leon Finney served as vice chairman of the
5Chicago Public Housing Authority; he was a member of the board
6of trustees for Chicago State University and the YMCA; he had
7also been a member of the Chicago Planning Commission; he
8founded Christ Apostolic Church and served as its pastor until
9the church merged with Metropolitan Apostolic Community Church
10in Bronzeville, where he served as senior pastor; and
 
11    WHEREAS, Dr. Leon Finney received numerous awards and
12honors for his professional and civic work; he authored several
13publications on economic and social development and created
14programs that developed future leaders, like the African
15American Leadership program at McCormick Theological Seminary;
16and
 
17    WHEREAS, Dr. Leon Dorsey was preceded in death by his
18parents; the mother of his children, Sharon McGaughey Finney;
19and his son, Leon (Tre') Dorsey Finney, III; and
 
20    WHEREAS, Dr. Leon Dorsey is survived by his daughter,
21Kristin Finney-Cooke; his son-in-law, Dr. Gerald Lynzie Cooke;
22his three grandchildren, Jaiden, Ava, and Gerald (Liam); his

 

 

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1siblings, Gwen, Zenobia (Rene), Michael, Michelle, and Andre;
2his former wife, Attorney Georgette Greenlee; his cousins,
3Attorney James Montgomery, Warren Jones, former Secretary of
4Agriculture Michael Espy, and Henry Espy; and his many loving
5nieces, nephews, and family friends; therefore, be it
 
6    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL
7ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of
8Reverend Dr. Leon Dorsey Finney Jr. after a lifetime of service
9and dedication to social justice and extend our sincere
10condolences to his family, friends, and all who knew and loved
11him; and be it further
 
12    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
13presented to the family of Dr. Leon Finney as an expression of
14our deepest sympathy.