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| | SR0858 | | LRB103 39716 ECR 70163 r |
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| 1 | | SENATE RESOLUTION |
| 2 | | WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened |
| 3 | | to learn of the death of Cleofus "Bear" Hopkins Sr., who passed |
| 4 | | away on February 11, 2024; and |
| 5 | | WHEREAS, Cleofus Hopkins was born to Johnnie B. Hopkins |
| 6 | | and Ruthie Mae Downs in Blytheville, Arkansas on August 8, |
| 7 | | 1953; he attended Donahue Elementary and graduated from |
| 8 | | Oakenwald South Elementary School in 1967 and from Paul |
| 9 | | Laurence Dunbar Vocational High School in 1971; he married |
| 10 | | Desmonia Harris on August 31, 1979; and |
| 11 | | WHEREAS, Cleofus Hopkins worked as a stationary engineer |
| 12 | | and then manager at Freeport McMoran, retiring on July 1, 2009 |
| 13 | | after 22 years of service; and |
| 14 | | WHEREAS, Cleofus Hopkins committed to his faith at an |
| 15 | | early age and was ordained as a deacon at All Things Are |
| 16 | | Possible Missionary Baptist Church on August 21, 2005; and |
| 17 | | WHEREAS, Cleofus Hopkins had a passion for old school cars |
| 18 | | and motorcycles and liked to spend time with the Low End |
| 19 | | Riders; he loved to maintain and tinker with his own vehicles |
| 20 | | and could fix anything, earning the nickname Mr. Gadget; he |
| 21 | | enjoyed watching drag racing, western movies, cartoons, and |
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| | SR0858 | - 2 - | LRB103 39716 ECR 70163 r |
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| 1 | | documentaries about animals and listening to music; he was an |
| 2 | | avid fan of the Chicago White Sox and actively rooted for any |
| 3 | | team that played against the Chicago Cubs; and |
| 4 | | WHEREAS, Cleofus Hopkins led by example and was the glue |
| 5 | | that held his family together; his family meant everything to |
| 6 | | him, and he loved spending time with his grandchildren, |
| 7 | | family, and friends; and |
| 8 | | WHEREAS, Cleofus Hopkins was preceded in death by his |
| 9 | | parents; his brothers, Wille B. Hopkins, Barry "Cheyenne" |
| 10 | | Hopkins, and Johnny B. Hopkins Jr.; and his sister, Dorothy |
| 11 | | Jean Hopkins; and |
| 12 | | WHEREAS, Cleofus Hopkins is survived by his wife; his son, |
| 13 | | Cleofus Hopkins Jr.; his grandchildren, DeAndre, Kailah, Zoe, |
| 14 | | and Ryan; his siblings, Johnnie Mae Hopkins, Regina (TJ) |
| 15 | | Ashford, Larry (Sylvia) Hopkins, and Johnnie Hopkins; his |
| 16 | | stepmother, Ruby Hopkins; and his extended family, loved ones, |
| 17 | | and friends; therefore, be it |
| 18 | | RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL |
| 19 | | ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of |
| 20 | | Cleofus "Bear" Hopkins Sr. and extend our sincere condolences |
| 21 | | to his family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be |
| 22 | | it further |