SR0417 95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0417 LRB095 14068 KXB 39920 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Nia Thomas of Chicago, who recently passed away; and

WHEREAS, Nia Thomas was born on March 28, 1991 in Chicago; Nia, whose name in Swahili means "Purpose", would never allow distractions to pull her away from her goals; and

WHEREAS, Nia Thomas was a beautiful young lady who had a flair for creativity; at the age of two she was the little girl who took scraps of paper left on the table by her teacher and created a collage, her first framed work of art; she also displayed a keen talent for drawing, writing, the performing arts, and music; and

WHEREAS, At just four years old, Nia began playing the violin and the piano; she began playing the flute when she was eight, and in 2006 she picked up the saxophone; her first performance was on stage for ballet and tap at age three, she sang in the church choir since she was four, entered the Princess Beauty Pageant at six , and in 2006 she took the lead in Aladdin ; and

WHEREAS, Nia's interests included swimming, playing little league baseball, ice hockey, figure skating, fencing, taking karate and Tai Chi lessons, gymnastics, and basketball; when she was thirteen she became a certified scuba diver; she was asked to be the assistant cheerleading coach; she took a seat in student government; Nia was involved with the Youth Department at the Apostolic Church of God; she was a member of The G.R.A.C.E. program, a program that groomed teenage girls to lady-hood; and Nia and her two brothers were active members of the Children's Concert Choir; and

WHEREAS, Nia Thomas has left an indelible mark on all of her friends; she played a significant role in mentoring her two brothers, Rheaves and Brooks and is survived by them, her cousins, her fellow students at the Cove School, and many friends; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn, along with her family and friends, the passing of Nia Thomas; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Nia Thomas as a symbol of our sympathy.