SR0222 98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0222 LRB098 11680 GRL 44267 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Ricardo Alphonso Neal, who passed away on March 22, 2013; and

WHEREAS, Ricardo Neal was born on October 19, 1960, in St. Louis, Missouri; his parents were Gene Neal and Ruth Jean Gates; as a young boy, he accepted salvation at Temple Church of Christ in St. Louis; and

WHEREAS, After graduating from Mercy High School, Ricardo Neal attended Tennessee State University, where he became a proud member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity; he later earned his bachelor's degree in psychology from Columbia College and his master's degree in counseling from Missouri Baptist University; and

WHEREAS, Ricardo Neal was an employee of the St. Louis Public School System and the Gateway Foundation; and

WHEREAS, Ricardo Neal was an Ordained Elder in the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World, Inc., where he worked diligently in the ministry of drug and alcohol recovery; after relocating his family to Illinois, he joined the New Life In Christ Interdenominational Church and continued his faithful service as a minister-in-training; his dream was to start a non-profit Christian organization called Anointed Grounds Ministry to assist those suffering from drug addiction and alcoholism, and he had made great strides in recent months toward fulfilling his dream; and

WHEREAS, Ricardo Neal enjoyed traveling and watching the History Channel and old black and white films on TCM; and

WHEREAS, Ricardo Neal is survived by his loving wife of 18 years, Roshanda Neal; his children, Randy Wiley, Mikayla Neal, Mariah Neal, Marissa Neal, and Jayden Neal; his special cousin, Sonja Strozier; his aunt, Mary (Tom) Roberts; his mother-in-law, Annie May; his sisters-in-law, Erica May, Barbara (Calvin) Ginger, and Gloria May; his special friend, Arthur Jones; and his many cousins, nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends, including the Brothers in the Bond of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., Alpha Theta Chapter; therefore, be it

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

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