SR0797 102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0797 LRB102 25756 MST 35082 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Deidre Nicole "Nadia" Silas of Springfield, who passed away tragically on January 4, 2022; and

WHEREAS, Deidre Silas was born to Roy and Barie Graham in Kingston, Jamaica on July 30, 1985; she moved to the United States in 1995; she was a member of Delta Sigmas Theta Inc.'s La Petite program as an eighth grader and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. while attending Springfield High School; she obtained her Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from Illinois State University in 2008; she married Andre Silas in 2017; she earned her Master of Public Administration in 2019 and certifications in Project Management and Human Resource Management in 2020; and

WHEREAS, Deidre Silas worked as a juvenile justice specialist and then as a supervisor at the Illinois Youth Center in Charleston from 2009 to 2017, where she was affectionately known as "Mama Graham"; she served as a child protection specialist with the Department of Child and Family Services; she was admired for her meticulousness in tracking her cases and performing her duties; she was dedicated to keeping the children and families of Illinois safe; and

WHEREAS, Deidre Silas published an autobiography in 2020 entitled The Crowns I Wear; and

WHEREAS, Deidre Silas committed to her faith at an early age, and she attended Union Baptist Church; she enjoyed spending time with her family and friends, reading, and cooking; and

WHEREAS, Deidre Silas was known for her kindness and her loving, warm, uplifting, and generous nature; she was willing to help anyone in need, especially children in broken homes; she will be dearly missed; and

WHEREAS, Deidre Silas was preceded in death by her grandparents, Gersham and Gertrude; her aunt, Carole; and her grandmother, Beryl; and

WHEREAS, Deidre Silas is survived by her husband, Andre Silas; her children, Ashton and Amelia; her parents; her brother, Mario Graham; her honorary sister and cousin, Monique Coombs; her grandfather, Clifford; her aunts, Monica, Avis, Andrea, Annmarie, Shawnie, Movia, Sylvia, Sharon, Kerryann, and Carol; her uncles, Carl, Lenny, Winston, Errol, Donovan, Wayne, Junior, and Shawn; and her many cousins; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED SECOND GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Deidre Nicole "Nadia" Silas 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 Deidre Silas as an expression of our deepest sympathy.