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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to
3learn of the death of James H. "Jimmy" Binkley of Peoria, who
4passed away on January 26, 2015; and
 
5    WHEREAS, James Binkley was born in Chicago on March 1, 1923
6to Carol and Mary Binkley; he married Sandra S. Hatfield in
7Springfield on November 26, 1979; and
 
8    WHEREAS, James Binkley started playing music
9professionally at the age of 17 with a jazz combo called Jimmy
10Binkley & The Blue Notes and toured through small Midwestern
11clubs; he started playing regularly for Collins Corner in
12downtown Peoria and eventually became a fixture at Jumer's
13Castle Lodge and other spots, before settling at Sky Harbor;
14and
 
15    WHEREAS, In 2010, James Binkley was honored with "Happy
16Jimmy Binkley Day: A Musical Tribute to Peoria's Legendary
17Jazzman" and he received proclamations from the City of West
18Peoria and the Peoria County Board; in 2014, he was the first
19African-American in 125 years to be Grand Marshall in the
20Peoria Santa Claus Parade; and
 
21    WHEREAS, James Binkley was preceded in death by his parents

 

 

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1and his sister, Carliss; and
 
2    WHEREAS, James Binkley is survived by his wife, Sandra; his
3son, Jimmy Binkley, Jr.; his step-daughters, DaVonne "Devo"
4(Brett) Pierce, Dianne "Bunny" (fiance Ty Harbourn)
5Knollenberg, and Debbie (Joey Marsh) Wennmacher; his step-son,
6Darren (Kim) Wennmacher; his many grandchildren; his many
7great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews;
8therefore, be it
 
9    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-NINTH GENERAL
10ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of
11James H. "Jimmy" Binkley, and extend our sincere condolences to
12his family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it
13further
 
14    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
15presented to the family of James Binkley as an expression of
16our deepest sympathy.