SR0964 102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0964 LRB102 23822 ECR 33013 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Dolores Register, who passed away on December 9, 2021 at the age of 88; and

WHEREAS, Dolores Register was born to John Thomas and Earsy (Bryant) Current in Detroit, Michigan on October 23, 1933; she was raised in Detroit, where she attended elementary school and graduated from Northwestern High School; she earned her Bachelor of Arts in Education and her Master of Education from Wayne State University, where she became a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. in 1952; and

WHEREAS, After graduating from Wayne State University, Dolores Register studied dance with Alvin Ailey and Martha Graham at Sorbonne University in France; throughout her life, she was a student of the world who traveled to a wide variety of locations, including Spain, Germany, France, Canada, Central America, Australia, and Nairobi, Kenya; and

WHEREAS, Dolores Register married the Rev. Donald B. Register on August 31, 1963, and they moved to St. Louis, Missouri; she became the first black teacher hired by the St. Louis Board of Education; she later gave birth to her first two children, John and Christopher; and

WHEREAS, Dolores Register moved with her family to Oak Park in 1971, where she gave birth to her third son, Mark; she was the founding director of the Multicultural Education Center, which became a critical component in Oak Park's equity and inclusion initiatives through the center's curriculum focusing on creating greater awareness and appreciation for different cultures through food, the arts, and community; as the founding director, she was involved in many festivals and events and helped create Oak Park's iconic Ethnic Fest celebration; and

WHEREAS, Dolores Register's husband, Donald, became pastor of Sixth Grace Presbyterian Church in Chicago; as first lady of the church, she implemented several programs advancing the church's mission; she was deeply rooted in her faith; and

WHEREAS, Dolores Register was preceded in death by her parents; her brothers, Gloster, Lester, and John; and her sisters, Isabelle and Gloria; and

WHEREAS, Dolores Register is survived by her husband of 58 years, the Rev. Donald B. Register; her sons, John (Alice) Register, Christopher (Samoria) Register, and Mark (Kenyatta) Register; her grandchildren, Ronald, John Jr., Ashley, Aimee, Danielle, Emmanuel, Rhea, Christopher, Reese, Tatum, and Tillman; and a host of great-grandchildren; 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 Dolores Register 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 Dolores Register as an expression of our deepest sympathy.