SR0317 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0317 LRB103 32529 MST 62102 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Aréanah M. Preston; and

WHEREAS, Aréanah Preston was born in Las Vegas, Nevada to Dionne and Allen Preston on June 7, 1998; after her parents divorced, her mother married Terrance Mhoon, who was proud to take on the role of father; she attended the Robert A. Black Magnet Elementary School, where she excelled academically and graduated with honors in 2012; she attended UIC College Prep High School, where she continued to flourish scholastically and developed a great love for cheerleading; she graduated from UIC College Preparatory High School in 2016 and enrolled in Illinois State University; she joined The Women of Enlightenment Chapter of the National Association of Colored Women's Club; she studied abroad in Germany, and it was her dream to work in the area of forensics science; she received her Bachelor of Science in Criminology and Criminal Justice in 2019; and

WHEREAS, Aréanah Preston joined the Chicago Police Department in May of 2021; she continued her education, earning her Master of Jurisprudence degree, with a concentration in Child and Family Law from Loyola University; on May 13, 2023, her family attended Loyola University's graduation ceremony and accepted her degree posthumously; and

WHEREAS, Aréanah Preston was a volunteer for the Leukemia Research Foundation, working to raise funds and bring awareness and support to the families of Leukemia patients; and

WHEREAS, Aréanah Preston was affectionately known as "Bae", "Nani", "Re'Re", "Captain", "Seester", "Aré", and "Officer"; her affectionate spirit spoke volumes, and she had a sense of humor that was second to none; she never met a stranger, and her outgoing character, appealing smile, and extraordinary ability to connect with people made everyone she encountered feel comfortable and at ease; she lived her life to the fullest, often traveling with family and friends; she deeply enjoyed celebrating weddings, graduations, and holidays; and

WHEREAS, Aréanah Preston's superpower was laughter, and she was eager to share that with each person she knew or just met; she loved sunflowers, which symbolize happiness, optimism, honesty, longevity, peace, admiration, and devotion, all of the qualities that encapsulate who she was as a daughter, sister, cousin, and friend; and

WHEREAS, Aréanah Preston had an incredible love for cooking and an insatiable appetite for seafood; eating, especially seafood boils, and reading James Baldwin novels were two of her favorite pastimes; she enjoyed shopping and was an avid collector of fashionable gym shoes; she amassed an unimaginable amount of stylish gym shoes and, at any given time, you could find her dancing and singing about her latest purchase; and

WHEREAS, Aréanah Preston was preceded in death by her grandmother, Jeanette Myers, and Virginia Thatch and Edward Preston; and

WHEREAS, Aréanah Preston is survived by her mother and stepfather, Dionne and Terrance Mhoon; her sisters, Amiyah and Amyrah; her uncle, Christopher (Adriana) Williams; her PaPa; her Big, Bria from NACWC and childhood friend, Trenise; DJ (CPD Partner); her Chicago Police Department family; her bonus sisters, Aa'jah, Paa'shion, and Tia; her aunt, Sonia (John); her biological father, Allen Preston; her paternal aunt, Anjela; her special cousins, Jru and Madison; and numerous cousins, aunts, uncles, bonus family members, and friends; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Aréanah M. Preston and extend our sincere condolences to her family, friends, and all who knew and loved her; and be it further

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