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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened
3to learn of the death of Deidre Nicole "Nadia" Silas of
4Springfield, who passed away tragically on January 4, 2022;
5and
 
6    WHEREAS, Deidre Silas was born to Roy and Barie Graham in
7Kingston, Jamaica on July 30, 1985; she moved to the United
8States in 1995; she was a member of Delta Sigmas Theta Inc.'s
9La Petite program as an eighth grader and Alpha Kappa Alpha
10Sorority, Inc. while attending Springfield High School; she
11obtained her Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from
12Illinois State University in 2008; she married Andre Silas in
132017; she earned her Master of Public Administration in 2019
14and certifications in Project Management and Human Resource
15Management in 2020; and
 
16    WHEREAS, Deidre Silas worked as a juvenile justice
17specialist and then as a supervisor at the Illinois Youth
18Center in Charleston from 2009 to 2017, where she was
19affectionately known as "Mama Graham"; she served as a child
20protection specialist with the Department of Child and Family
21Services; she was admired for her meticulousness in tracking
22her cases and performing her duties; she was dedicated to
23keeping the children and families of Illinois safe; and
 

 

 

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1    WHEREAS, Deidre Silas published an autobiography in 2020
2entitled The Crowns I Wear; and
 
3    WHEREAS, Deidre Silas committed to her faith at an early
4age, and she attended Union Baptist Church; she enjoyed
5spending time with her family and friends, reading, and
6cooking; and
 
7    WHEREAS, Deidre Silas was known for her kindness and her
8loving, warm, uplifting, and generous nature; she was willing
9to help anyone in need, especially children in broken homes;
10she will be dearly missed; and
 
11    WHEREAS, Deidre Silas was preceded in death by her
12grandparents, Gersham and Gertrude; her aunt, Carole; and her
13grandmother, Beryl; and
 
14    WHEREAS, Deidre Silas is survived by her husband, Andre
15Silas; her children, Ashton and Amelia; her parents; her
16brother, Mario Graham; her honorary sister and cousin, Monique
17Coombs; her grandfather, Clifford; her aunts, Monica, Avis,
18Andrea, Annmarie, Shawnie, Movia, Sylvia, Sharon, Kerryann,
19and Carol; her uncles, Carl, Lenny, Winston, Errol, Donovan,
20Wayne, Junior, and Shawn; and her many cousins; therefore, be
21it
 

 

 

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1    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED SECOND GENERAL
2ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of
3Deidre Nicole "Nadia" Silas and extend our sincere condolences
4to her family, friends, and all who knew and loved her; and be
5it further
 
6    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
7presented to the family of Deidre Silas as an expression of our
8deepest sympathy.