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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened
3to learn of the death of Dolores Register, who passed away on
4December 9, 2021 at the age of 88; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Dolores Register was born to John Thomas and
6Earsy (Bryant) Current in Detroit, Michigan on October 23,
71933; she was raised in Detroit, where she attended elementary
8school and graduated from Northwestern High School; she earned
9her Bachelor of Arts in Education and her Master of Education
10from Wayne State University, where she became a member of
11Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. in 1952; and
 
12    WHEREAS, After graduating from Wayne State University,
13Dolores Register studied dance with Alvin Ailey and Martha
14Graham at Sorbonne University in France; throughout her life,
15she was a student of the world who traveled to a wide variety
16of locations, including Spain, Germany, France, Canada,
17Central America, Australia, and Nairobi, Kenya; and
 
18    WHEREAS, Dolores Register married the Rev. Donald B.
19Register on August 31, 1963, and they moved to St. Louis,
20Missouri; she became the first black teacher hired by the St.
21Louis Board of Education; she later gave birth to her first two
22children, John and Christopher; and
 

 

 

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1    WHEREAS, Dolores Register moved with her family to Oak
2Park in 1971, where she gave birth to her third son, Mark; she
3was the founding director of the Multicultural Education
4Center, which became a critical component in Oak Park's equity
5and inclusion initiatives through the center's curriculum
6focusing on creating greater awareness and appreciation for
7different cultures through food, the arts, and community; as
8the founding director, she was involved in many festivals and
9events and helped create Oak Park's iconic Ethnic Fest
10celebration; and
 
11    WHEREAS, Dolores Register's husband, Donald, became pastor
12of Sixth Grace Presbyterian Church in Chicago; as first lady
13of the church, she implemented several programs advancing the
14church's mission; she was deeply rooted in her faith; and
 
15    WHEREAS, Dolores Register was preceded in death by her
16parents; her brothers, Gloster, Lester, and John; and her
17sisters, Isabelle and Gloria; and
 
18    WHEREAS, Dolores Register is survived by her husband of 58
19years, the Rev. Donald B. Register; her sons, John (Alice)
20Register, Christopher (Samoria) Register, and Mark (Kenyatta)
21Register; her grandchildren, Ronald, John Jr., Ashley, Aimee,
22Danielle, Emmanuel, Rhea, Christopher, Reese, Tatum, and

 

 

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1Tillman; and a host of great-grandchildren; therefore, be it
 
2    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED SECOND GENERAL
3ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of
4Dolores Register and extend our sincere condolences to her
5family, friends, and all who knew and loved her; and be it
6further
 
7    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
8presented to the family of Dolores Register as an expression
9of our deepest sympathy.