HR0570LRB102 22142 LAW 31271 r

1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of
3Representatives are saddened to learn of the death of Jerry
4Brown of Chicago, who passed away on November 10, 2021; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Jerry Brown was born to Elmer L. and Gladys C.
6(McGill) Brown in Chicago on December 17, 1954; he grew up on
7the West Side of Chicago on Roosevelt, and his family moved to
8Marynook in 1964; he attended Avalon Park Elementary School;
9he graduated from Bowen High School in 1972, where he
10participated in ROTC and played football; he briefly attended
11Bishop College in Marshall, Texas; he married Robin Richards
12in 1981; they had three children, Jerry II, Ryanne, and
13Jerome, and raised them in the Beverly neighborhood; and
 
14    WHEREAS, Jerry Brown began his professional career as a
15shoe salesman at Florsheim Shoes; he became a telephone
16technician at Illinois Bell in 1978, and he retired after 15
17years of service; he continued to take many contract
18positions, including leading telecommunications development at
19Midway Airport; due to these experiences, he became known as
20the family's handyman; and
 
21    WHEREAS, Jerry Brown committed to his faith at a young
22age; as an adult, he attended Lilydale Progressive Baptist and

 

 

HR0570- 2 -LRB102 22142 LAW 31271 r

1Trinity United Church of Christ; he read the Bible daily, and
2he loved to discuss, debate, and weave the words he read into
3his political views; and
 
4    WHEREAS, Jerry Brown became an active and outspoken
5community organizer on the South Side in his later years,
6working closely with the alderman's office and becoming deeply
7involved with the homeowners' association to help reduce
8crime, revitalize 87th street commerce, and much more; he
9helped co-found and worked closely with community
10organizations committed to providing support to families in
11the area, including the South Area Civic League and Roseland
12Matters; as a lifelong South Sider, he believed in its promise
13and did everything he could to fight for the residents and be a
14voice of the community; and
 
15    WHEREAS, Jerry Brown's voice became a microphone for
16community issues; he was a regular on many radio shows,
17including the Ben Joravsky Show, Stephanie Trusell, and WVON;
18he hosted his own internet radio show called Policy Matters;
19his preferred platform was Facebook, where he committed
20himself every day to providing strong opinions on politics,
21society, and crime in Chicago; he was known for "telling it
22like it is" and for often getting into debates with anyone
23willing; and
 

 

 

HR0570- 3 -LRB102 22142 LAW 31271 r

1    WHEREAS, Jerry Brown brought intelligence, passion, and
2conviction to everything he did; his family was his pride and
3joy, and he loved spending time with them; and
 
4    WHEREAS, Jerry Brown was preceded in death by his sibling,
5Elmer; and
 
6    WHEREAS, Jerry Brown is survived by his children, Jerry II
7(Lauren), Ryanne, and Jerome; his grandchildren, Jacob,
8Jackson, Julian, and Jacoby; his former wife, Robin; his
9mother, Gladys; his siblings, Gladys Emir and Lloyd; and a
10host of beloved family and lifelong and Facebook friends;
11therefore, be it
 
12    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE
13HUNDRED SECOND GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
14we mourn the passing of Jerry Brown and extend our sincere
15condolences to his family, friends, and all who knew and loved
16him; and be it further
 
17    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
18presented to the family of Jerry Brown as an expression of our
19deepest sympathy.