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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.