SR2097 100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR2097 LRB100 23910 ALS 42979 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Barbara M. (Johnson) Dye, who passed away on August 26, 2018; and

WHEREAS, Barbara Dye was born in St. Louis, Missouri to Perkins and Inez Johnson on November 23, 1948; she grew up in East St. Louis; she attended public schools and received her high school diploma from East St. Louis Senior High School in 1967; she committed to her faith at an early age at Bray Temple CME Church; after raising her daughter, she pursued her college education and earned a bachelor's degree in criminal justice from Sangamon State University in 1988; she earned her master's degree in public administration from Southern Illinois University in 1992; she recognized the merits of a good education and completed both of her degrees while working full-time, managing a household, and being an active member of her church; she married Calvin L. Dye Sr. in 2005; and

WHEREAS, Barbara Dye was part of a small group of African American females that were hired by the May Company for front office clerical positions in the 1960s; she left the May Company to enter law enforcement; a champion for justice, she embraced new concepts introduced by the Illinois Department of Corrections in the early 1970s; she helped to open group homes for youth reentering society from juvenile facilities and met with schools to help open the doors for kids needing a support system to regain admission; she was appointed to the Illinois Prisoner Review Board in 1992, and she was a member for nearly 16 years; and

WHEREAS, Barbara Dye was active in several public, professional, and social service organizations; she was a longtime member of the National Association of Blacks in Criminal Justice; in 1995, she accepted membership with the East St. Louis Alumnae Chapter of the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated; one of her best memories was helping her husband campaign for and secure the office of St. Clair County Coroner; and

WHEREAS, Barbara Dye was preceded in death by her parents and her sister, Carol J. Morris; and

WHEREAS, Barbara Dye is survived by her husband, Calvin; her daughter, Candace Hubbard; her stepchildren, Rayonda Dye and Calvin (Rauslyn) Dye Jr.; her granddaughter, Alaina Dye; her brother, Michael P. (Elizabeth) Johnson; her sister, Jane (Reginald) Hall; her nephews, Michael P. (Alicia) Johnson Jr. and Paul Johnson; her nieces, Amanda (Lawrence) Shields, Regina (Adrian) Anderson, and Keri Hall; her uncles, Rudolph (Barbara) Jackson and Buffus Jackson; her aunts, Ernestine Rogers and Deloris Puckett; her play-sister, Gloria Haley; and her many nieces, nephews, cousins, and family; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDREDTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Barbara M. (Johnson) Dye, celebrate her contributions to the justice system, 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 Barbara Dye as an expression of our deepest sympathy.