SR0206LRB101 11287 ALS 56668 r


  
1
SENATE RESOLUTION

  
 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to 
3learn of the death of Genevieve Range Brown, who passed away on 
4February 12, 2019; and
  
 
5    WHEREAS, Genevieve Brown was born to Charles and Estella 
6Evans on December 22, 1938; she committed to her faith and 
7began her Christian ministry as a Sunday school teacher; her 
8love for teaching grew, and she eventually served as a vacation 
9bible school director, a Sunday school superintendent, a 
10SpiritLed Women director, and a Bible study leader; she was 
11ordained into the gospel ministry on May 16, 1993; and
  
 
12    WHEREAS, Genevieve Brown was the first African American 
13cheerleader at Joliet Township High School and the first 
14African American woman to run for the school board in Joliet; 
15in the 1970s, she became the first African American female 
16wrestling referee in the State of Illinois; and
  
 
17    WHEREAS, Genevieve Brown was an advocate for all; she 
18created the Genevieve Brown Scholarship for high school teen 
19mothers; she volunteered at the Salvation Army, read to 
20children at the local school, and served as the president of 
21the PTA and the band boosters; after her first heart bypass 
22surgery, she founded the support group Mended Hearts; for the 
 
 
SR0206- 2 -LRB101 11287 ALS 56668 r

1last three years, she was a member of Leap of Faith Ministries 
2under the leadership of her oldest son; and
  
 
3    WHEREAS, Genevieve Brown received many awards for her 
4community work, including the Joliet NAACP Phenomenal Women 
5Award, the Woman of Distinction Award from the Midwest 
6Christian Women's Conference, the Vivian Pennymon Community 
7Service Award from the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, and the 
8Community Service Award from the National Hook-Up of Black 
9Women; she was also recognized by Mothers Against Gangs; and
  
 
10    WHEREAS, Genevieve Brown was preceded in death by her 
11parents and her siblings, Charles Evans Jr. and Ethel Mae 
12Bankston; and
  
 
13    WHEREAS, Genevieve Brown is survived by her children, 
14Bishop-Elect Steven (Alicia) Evans, R. Dale (Valerie) Evans, 
15Dr. Tammy (Willie) Alexander, Rhonda (Neal) Lockhart, and Elder 
16David (Sidonia) Range; her sister-in-love, Margaret Lively; 
17her godchildren, DonnaRae Spivey, Troy Cicero Jr., Taylor 
18Cicero, and Kemyra Genny-Johnay Davis; her cousins, friends, 
19and the next generation of trailblazers, servant leaders, and 
20community advocates; her 16 grandchildren; her 20 
21great-grandchildren; and her two great-great-grandchildren; 
22therefore, be it
  
 
 
 
SR0206- 3 -LRB101 11287 ALS 56668 r

1    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL 
2ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of 
3Genevieve Range Brown and extend our sincere condolences to her 
4family, friends, and all who knew and loved her; and be it 
5further
  
 
6    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
7presented to the family of Genevieve Brown as an expression of 
8our deepest sympathy.