SR1006 97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR1006 LRB097 23540 GRL 72544 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Reverend Tom C. "TC" Sturdivant, who passed away on November 25, 2012; and

WHEREAS, Rev. Tom Sturdivant was born on March 25, 1936, in York, Alabama; his parents were Roy and Jessie B. (Nixon) Sturdivant; he married Callie Mae Sturdivant, who preceded him in death; he later married Katie Lee Elston on March 27, 2004; and

WHEREAS, Before he became a minister, Rev. Tom Sturdivant was a civil rights freedom fighter in Alabama who walked hand-in-hand with the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King and other freedom fighters in Selma, Alabama; he personally knew James Chaney, Andrew Goodman, and Michael Schwerner, who were among those who died in the movement; he also was known to house civil rights activists at his home or other real estate he owned; and

WHEREAS, Rev. Tom Sturdivant retired from the railroad industry in 1993 after many years of service; he served as pastor of the Mount Zion Baptist Church in Galesburg, commuting from Peoria to Galesburg for more than 21 years; after the death of the Rev. John L. Gordon and when the Rev. Sturdivant's work was done in Galesburg, the Lord led him back to Peoria to pastor St. Luke M.B. Church; in the meantime, he graduated from the Illinois Baptist College in Galesburg; and

WHEREAS, Rev. Tom Sturdivant was a member of Grace Baptist Church, under the leadership of the Rev. Jeffery Ivory Sr.; he became a senior pastor of St. Luke M.B. Church and faithfully served there for more than 19 years until his passing; over the years, he also served with the Baptist General State of Churches as the unit district moderator and as president of the Baptist Minister Alliance and the Praise Team at the State Baptist General Conventions; and

WHEREAS, Rev. Tom Sturdivant is survived by his loving and devoted wife of 8 years, Katie Sturdivant; his sons, Willie J. McCallum, Thomas R. (Sheila) Sturdivant, Charles (Vera) McVay, and Chad Dunlop; his daughters, Jeannette (Quintin) Sturdivant-Marshall, Francis D. Sturdivant, Robin Otterstrom, Yvette Sturdivant, Latisha Sturdivant, and Joyce McVay; his brothers, Danny B. (Penny) Sturdivant, Floyd (Gladys) Sturdivant, and William O. (Deborah) Sturdivant; his sisters, Rosie Ruffin and Melvie Thomas; his 35 grandchildren; his many great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren; his many other relatives; and the members of the Baptist General State Churches and the Peoria community; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn, along with his family and friends, the passing of Reverend Tom C. "TC" Sturdivant; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Rev. Tom Sturdivant as an expression of our sympathy.