SR0829 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0829 LRB104 22208 MST 38517 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Bishop George Lee Dowell of Danville, who passed away on May 11, 2026 at the age of 78; and

WHEREAS, Bishop Dowell was born in Atoka, Tennessee to D.C. and Alberta C. Dowell on August 7, 1947; he graduated from Danville High School, where he was a star in football, basketball, and track; he served in the U.S. Navy and was honorably discharged on October 18, 1972; he married Shanae Camille Street on September 14, 1973; and

WHEREAS, Bishop Dowell returned to Danville and began his career working at the Danville Veterans Administration Medical Center as a nursing assistant and substance abuse counselor; he later worked as a deputy sheriff, a supervisor at Wyman Gordon, and an employee of the Danville Correctional Center, from which he retired as third shift supervisor/captain; after his retirement, he worked as a bailiff for the Vermilion County Circuit Court of the 5th Judicial Court for approximately 13 years; during his career, he returned to school as an adult and earned an associate's degree in police science; and

WHEREAS, Bishop Dowell was ordained in 1976 and served as the minister at Collett Street Church of Christ for 30 years and as interim pastor for other ministries for approximately seven years; he founded the 21st Century Christian Worship Center in 2013 and served as the administrator overseeing the entire workings of the church; he trained and ordained many individuals who are now serving in the ministry; he worked a full-time job while maintaining the church and donated his salary to the youth department and others in need; and

WHEREAS, Bishop Dowell served as a member of the Civic Center Board, the Martin Luther King Jr. Scholarship Committee, and the Board of Fire & Police Commissioners; and

WHEREAS, Bishop Dowell was affectionately known as "Tae Tae"; he enjoyed spending quality time with his entire family and was best known for preaching the gospel, his kindness and humble spirit, and, most of all, his endless jokes and unique sense of humor; and

WHEREAS, Bishop Dowell was preceded in death by his parents and his siblings, Edgar, Richard, James, Ronnie, Michael, and Anna Pearl; and

WHEREAS, Bishop Dowell is survived by his wife, Shanae; his children, Cicely M. (Christopher) Knight, Asha M. Dowell, and Ryan W. (Patsy) Dowell; his grandchildren, Jaron M. (Lana) Cunningham, Jordan M. (Ahmani) Cunningham, Tristan Pratt, Julius Dowell, Anna Dowell, Royce Dowell, and Nysa Dowell; his great-grandchildren, Imani, Amiyah, Layla, Eleanor, Jayce, and Marlowe; his siblings, Allie Mae Cotton, Thomas Dowell, and Carolyn Dowell; his spiritual children and grandchildren, Travis (Diana) Henderson, Jason Haskins, Thomas (Jackay) Rose, Martha (Addy) Adamore, Alexis (Randall) Espinoza, Megan (Payton) Mattingly, and Markiah, Tharijah, and Thadeson Rose; his special nieces and nephews, Calvin Dowell, and Janelle, Emil, and Aaron Hall; his special aunt, Lois Hayes; and his special friend, Honorable Circuit Court Judge Claudia Anderson; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Bishop George Lee Dowell and extend our sincere condolences to his family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Bishop Dowell as an expression of our deepest sympathy.