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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened
3to learn of the death of Pearly Mae Bonds of Peoria, who passed
4away on June 29, 2024; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Pearly Bonds was born to Oscar Stinson Sr. and
6Elizabeth (Mitchell) Stinson in Curve, Tennessee on October 4,
71923; she married T.R. Bonds in Caruthersville, Missouri on
8October 31, 1942; and
 
9    WHEREAS, Pearly Bonds was a dedicated civil rights leader
10in Peoria for over 50 years; she was instrumental in the City
11of Peoria donating the NAACP building, and her efforts were
12publicly celebrated when the building was renamed the Pearly
13M. Bonds Community Center in 2014; she was one of the founding
14visionaries of Peoria's African American Hall of Fame Museum
15in 1987, where she served as a mentor and adviser to museum
16leaders and was inducted in March 1996; and
 
17    WHEREAS, Pearly Bonds committed to her faith at an early
18age; she attended Friendship Baptist Church, Grace Baptist
19Church, and Ward Chapel A.M.E. Church in Peoria, where she was
20a member for over 50 years and served in many capacities,
21including as a pastoral advisor, pastor's aide, steward, and
22choir member; she also founded the Willing Workers Club, was a

 

 

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1member of the Wilberforce Club, and led several voter
2registration drives at church and in the community over the
3years; and
 
4    WHEREAS, Pearly Bonds received many accolades, including
5the NAACP 25 Years or More Service Diploma in July 1984, a
6Certificate of Recognition from the Harrison Youth Center in
7April 1992, the Rosa Parks Award from the King Holiday
8Committee of Peoria in January 2009, the Valeska S. Hinton
9Human Rights Award from the YWCA of Peoria in May 2010, and a
10Certificate of Recognition for Dedicated Christian Service as
11an Usher from the United Usher Board of Peoria in June 1997;
12and
 
13    WHEREAS, Pearly Bonds was preceded in death by her
14parents; her husband; her daughter, Theresa "Terry" Bonds; her
15brothers, Joseph E. Graves, Eddie Stinson, and William
16Stinson; and her sisters, Virginia Stinson Donaldson, Girtie
17B. Phillips, and Maggie L. Jamison; and
 
18    WHEREAS, Pearly Bonds is survived by her son, James Bond;
19her grandchildren, Carlos Metts, Teon Metts, D'Mir Henderson,
20Kristopher Poynter, and Avante' Bond; 10 great-grandchildren;
21her sisters, Lillian Crooks and Alice Montine Brown; her
22brother, Joseph Bedford (Marlene) Stinson; and a host of other
23family and friends; therefore, be it
 

 

 

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1    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL
2ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of
3Pearly Mae Bonds 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 Pearly Bonds as an expression of our
8deepest sympathy.