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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

  
 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to 
3learn of the death of John Smith Clayborne, Jr. of East St. 
4Louis, who passed away on April 2, 2016; and
  
 
5    WHEREAS, John Clayborne, Jr. was born in St. Louis, 
6Missouri to Ophelia Ruth (Vaughn) and John Smith Clayborne,
Sr. 
7on March 30, 1952; he graduated from East St. Louis Senior
High 
8School on June 4, 1970 and attended State Community College in 
9the 1970s; during his youth, he  was a karate enthusiast and 
10transformed
the entire family basement into a gym, teaching 
11young men in the
community the basics of karate; and
  
 
12    WHEREAS, John Clayborne, Jr. worked as a forklift operator 
13at Granite City Steel, retiring
after 25 years of service; and
  
 
14    WHEREAS, John Clayborne, Jr. was artistic and loved working 
15with his hands;
he opened Wolf Graphics, where he acted
as art 
16director; he designed and developed wood and window
signs, 
17banners, and painted landscapes and portraits on
canvas; he 
18loved reading about ancient history and how-to books and had 
19more math books and materials than would be found in a
high 
20school library; and
  
 
21    WHEREAS, John Clayborne, Jr. was preceded in death by his 
 
 
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1father and his two sisters, Ruth Ann Clayborne Denny
and Betty 
2Mawiyah Clayborne; and
  
 
3    WHEREAS, John Clayborne, Jr. is survived by his mother, 
4Ophelia Clayborne; his sisters, Sylvia Clayborne and
Joann 
5Clayborne; his  nephew, Parker Denny; his niece, MaQyria Harris; 
6his aunts, Vernice
McGough (Benny) and Willie B. Clayborne; his 
7uncles, Alphonzo Vaughn and Calvin Clayborne; his 
8brother-in-law, Lowell
Denny; his  dear friend, Shakita Perry;

9and a host of cousins and friends; therefore, be it
  
 
10    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-NINTH GENERAL 
11ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of 
12John Smith Clayborne, Jr., and extend our sincere condolences 
13to his family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be 
14it further
  
 
15    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
16presented to  the family of  John Clayborne, Jr. as an expression 
17of our deepest sympathy.