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1 HOUSE RESOLUTION
2 WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of
3 Representatives are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of
4 former State Representative Charles E. Jefferson, who served
5 the 67th District with distinction from April 2001 until his
6 retirement on July 1, 2014; and
7 WHEREAS, Rep. Jefferson was born on March 31, 1945 in
8 Waco, Texas to Lee Sr. and Victoria Jefferson; he is survived
9 by nine siblings; and
10 WHEREAS, Rep. Jefferson was drafted into the United States
11 Army at the age of 20, where he served honorably for six years
12 and achieved the rank of sergeant in the military police; he
13 was stationed in Japan for four years and met his wife, Genell,
14 while both were serving in the army; and
15 WHEREAS, Rep. Jefferson and his wife settled in Rockford
16 in the early 1970s after their military service, where they
17 built a life together and raised their three sons, Carl
18 Edward, Curtis Lamar, and Charles Jr.; and
19 WHEREAS, Rep. Jefferson worked primarily as a car salesman
20 for many years, where his friendly demeanor and dedication to
21 service earned him great respect in the community; he was also
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1 active on several local boards and committees, contributing
2 his leadership and insight to improve the Rockford area; and
3 WHEREAS, Rep. Jefferson was an active and devoted member
4 of Providence Baptist Church on Rockford's south side, where
5 he found spiritual fulfillment and remained a pillar of the
6 congregation; and
7 WHEREAS, Rep. Jefferson entered public service by running
8 for a seat on the Winnebago County Board, challenging the
9 brother of then-State Representative Zeke Giorgi and securing
10 a victory; his service on the county board, where he chaired
11 the Public Works Committee, marked the beginning of a
12 distinguished career in government; and
13 WHEREAS, Rep. Jefferson served as assistant majority
14 leader and was a member of several key committees during his
15 time in the Illinois General Assembly, including Public
16 Utilities, Labor, Aging, Prison Reform, Gaming, Juvenile
17 Justice Reform, Tollway Oversight, and the Committee of the
18 Whole; his commitment to public service was further
19 exemplified through his leadership as majority conference
20 chairperson; and
21 WHEREAS, Rep. Jefferson was a strong advocate for his
22 community; he worked to ensure that a new judicial circuit was
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1 created to increase minority representation on the bench; he
2 brought capital construction projects to his district to
3 create local jobs and repair Rockford's infrastructure and
4 roadways; he spearheaded a funding project to provide
5 passenger rail service between Rockford and Chicago; and
6 WHEREAS, Rep. Jefferson tirelessly advocated for the
7 rights of veterans and seniors, worked to ensure Rockford
8 schools received their fair share, and was an unrelenting
9 activist for public safety, supporting initiatives to combat
10 gang violence and protect programs such as CeaseFire and the
11 Booker Washington Center; and
12 WHEREAS, Rep. Jefferson's dedication to his community
13 extended beyond legislation; he maintained a professional and
14 responsive constituent service office, hosted an annual
15 Mother's Day luncheon to honor local mothers, and raised funds
16 for local food pantries; and
17 WHEREAS, Rep. Jefferson, in recognition of his enduring
18 impact, was honored by the Booker Washington Center by
19 dedicating the Chuck Jefferson Library of African American
20 History and Culture in 2018, a testament to his commitment to
21 education and the preservation of African American heritage;
22 and
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1 WHEREAS, Rep. Jefferson was known throughout the Rockford
2 area and the Illinois House of Representatives for his warm
3 and approachable nature, his wisdom and genuine understanding,
4 and his care for the concerns of Illinois and his community;
5 and
6 WHEREAS, Rep. Jefferson's legacy continues to inspire
7 future generations, exemplifying the profound difference one
8 dedicated individual can make in the lives of others;
9 therefore, be it
10 RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE
11 HUNDRED FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
12 we mourn the passing of former State Representative Charles E.
13 Jefferson and honor him for his years of dedicated service;
14 and be it further
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