SR0493 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0493 LRB103 34299 LAW 64126 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Jesse Lee Fleming of Chicago, who passed away on August 27, 2023; and

WHEREAS, Jesse Lee Fleming was born to W.T. and Beatrice Fleming in Chicago on March 11, 1947; he committed to his faith as a young adult and was baptized at St. Matthew Missionary Baptist Church; he graduated from Zenos Colman Elementary School in 1963 and Jean Baptiste Pointe DuSable High School in 1967, where he played trumpet, piano, and guitar, performed in the orchestra and booster band, and participated in the Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) and the Senior Club; he attended Wilson Junior College, known today as Kennedy-King Community College; and

WHEREAS, Jesse Lee Fleming was an accomplished musician; he played for the Midwest Philharmonic Orchestra for several years and for numerous bands, leading him to travel across the Midwest and the South; he toured with the Grand Express Band and traveled the entire country; he was a resident musician in Las Vegas for many years, and he also worked as a movie extra in Hollywood, California; and

WHEREAS, Jesse Lee Fleming returned to Chicago after touring in 1982; he gave private music lessons on the guitar and trumpet for a while, which he ended due to his students' lack of seriousness; he worked for the U.S. Postal Service from 1991 until his retirement in 2016; and

WHEREAS, Jesse Lee Fleming preferred staying home and living a quiet life in retirement; he enjoyed watching Chicago Cubs games and old western television shows, including Gunsmoke, Bonanza, and Have Gun - Will Travel; he especially enjoyed the western movies The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance and Winchester '73; he loved being on social media and posting on Facebook; he also loved listening to music of all genres, including rhythm & blues, gospel, soul, pop, jazz, and classical; and

WHEREAS, Jesse Lee Fleming was a skilled chess player, a devoted Chicago Cubs fan, and an avid reader; he will be remembered for being an intelligent and outgoing person; and

WHEREAS, Jesse Lee Fleming was preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Cansady Fleming; and

WHEREAS, Jesse Lee Fleming is survived by his sisters, Beatrice A. Haney, Mary L. Fleming, and Amy L. Fleming; his brother, Terry L. Fleming; his aunt, Mattie Allen; his niece, Mia K. Fleming; his nephews, Derrick K. Fleming Sr., TiJuan L. Fleming, Brian K. Fleming Sr., and Maurice L. (Michaela) Fleming; his great-nephews, Derrick K. Fleming Jr., Brian Fleming Jr., and Cameron Fleming; his great-grandnephews, Kah'Rion and Derrick III; his lifelong friends, Harold Warner and James Rankins; and a host of cousins and friends; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Jesse Lee Fleming and extend our sincere condolences to his family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Jesse Lee Fleming as an expression of our deepest sympathy.