SR0981 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0981 LRB096 24051 GRL 43460 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Reverend James L. Demus III, who passed away on September 23, 2010; and

WHEREAS, Reverend James Demus III served as senior pastor of Park Manor Christian Church for the last 25 years; under Rev. Demus' leadership, Park Manor grew into one of the largest African American churches in the Disciples of Christ denomination; and

WHEREAS, Reverend James Demus III served as executive director of the Chicago South Side NAACP; he was a Rainbow PUSH official; he helped found the Ministerial Alliance Against the Digital Divide, a 30,000+ member next-generation civil rights organization that is devoted to bridging the Digital Divide and promoting personal and economic development in low-income and minority communities across the country; he also was the chief organizer for the original Million Man March; and

WHEREAS, Reverend James Demus III is survived by his wife, Eleanor; his sons, Joshua Von Demus and James L. Demus IV; his stepchildren, Robyn L. Cushingberry, Marie C. Babb-Fowler, and Lamont Sharp, and his grandchildren, Anna J. Chapman-Demus, Candyce L. Black, Brittany Thompson, and Andrew Babb-Fowler; and

WHEREAS, Reverend James Demus III will be fondly remembered by his loving family and friends and the congregation of Park Manor Christian Church as a faithful servant to his community and a shining beacon of hope; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn, along with his family and friends, the passing of Reverend James L. Demus III; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Reverend James Demus III as an expression of our sympathy.