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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to
3learn of the death of Lester M. Brown of Danville, who passed
4away on February 29, 2016; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Lester Brown was born in Chicago to Robert L. and
6Melissa Pauline Dixon Brown on September 1, 1938; he began
7attending school in Cairo, and then after moving to Danville,
8he attended Douglas Grade School, graduating 8th grade as class
9valedictorian; he also attended Danville High School and
10Danville Area Community College, where he received an Associate
11Degree in Accounting; he served as a military police officer in
12the United States Army from 1956 to 1958; and
 
13    WHEREAS, Lester Brown was employed at the Veterans
14Administration Hospital and the Internal Revenue Service;
15after retiring from the Internal Revenue Service, he and his
16wife opened Brown's Accounting and Tax Service, serving the
17Danville community for 34 years; he was also employed with East
18Central Illinois Community Action Agency as Deputy Director;
19and
 
20    WHEREAS, Lester Brown served as an Alderman on the Danville
21City Council from 1987 to 2003; he was the first
22African-American on the council after a 1987 federal court

 

 

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1consent decree established the city's mayor-aldermanic form of
2government; while on the council, he served two terms as
3Vice-Mayor; he also served as City Treasurer from 2004 to 2007;
4and
 
5    WHEREAS, Lester Brown was a former member of the Danville
6Rotary Club; the Downtown Danville Rotary Club; Corinthian
7Lodge #31 F & AM, Prince Hall Affiliated, State of Illinois;
8the East Central Illinois Community Action Agency Governing
9Board of Directors; the Danville Housing Authority Board; and
10Scoutmaster, Troop 302, Laura Lee Fellowship House; he was
11fundamental in organizing the Boys and Girls Club of Danville,
12serving on the board for many years; he also served on the
13Vermilion County Health Center Board and with Habitat for
14Humanity, and Faith in Action; and
 
15    WHEREAS, Lester Brown was a former member of the Union
16Missionary Baptist Church and served as church Treasurer; he
17was a member of the Carter Metropolitan Christian Methodist
18Episcopal Church, where he has served as a member of the
19Steward Board and chaired that board for many years; he was
20also the drummer in the church band and served on the Chicago
21District Lay Council; and
 
22    WHEREAS, Lester Brown received numerous awards and
23recognitions, including the Silver Beaver Scouting Award, the

 

 

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1Paul Harris Fellow Rotarian Award, and the Danville Small
2Business Award; he was especially proud of being a Scoutmaster
3and was chosen to be a part of the national committee to revise
4the Scout Handbook; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Lester Brown loved jazz music and played the drums
6with the Main Course Jazz Band; he enjoyed cooking, reading,
7gardening, and fishing with his friend, Carl Alexander; and
 
8    WHEREAS, Lester Brown was preceded in death by his parents;
9his daughter; 3 brothers; and 2 sisters; and
 
10    WHEREAS, Lester Brown is survived by his wife of 35 years,
11Brenda Collier Brown; his 5 children, Norvel Colemon, Adam
12(Emma) Brown, Amy (Anthony) Thomas, Jason Brown, and Leslie
13(Donnell) Wilson; his grandchildren and great-grandchildren;
14his adopted children, Paula (Archel) Young, Michael Young,
15Thomas Morgan, and Kecia (Brian) Mason; his three sisters,
16Janice Washington, Leoda Brown, and Forgenia (Charles) Smith;
17and his five brothers, Larry Brown, Wayne Brown, Alvarez
18Severado, James (Verane) Young, and Marsiellis (Susan) Brown;
19therefore, be it
 
20    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-NINTH GENERAL
21ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of
22Lester M. Brown, and extend our sincere condolences to his

 

 

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1family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it
2further
 
3    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
4presented to the family of Lester Brown as an expression of our
5deepest sympathy.