Bill > SR0607

This resolution, passed by the Illinois Senate, expresses sorrow over the death of Reverend Janis Arlene Sharpe, who passed away on January 8, 2026. Reverend Sharpe was a significant figure in Chicago, born in 1936, who earned advanced degrees in Christian Education and Divinity. She served as an ordained elder and senior pastor in the African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church, leading the Sojourner Truth Learning Center and co-founding St. Mark AME Church, while also serving at Carey Tercentenary AME Church. Her civic contributions included leadership roles within the City of Chicago under Mayor Richard M. Daley, serving on the Chicago Board of Education and as a pension trustee, and actively engaging in political advocacy where she believed faith and justice were intertwined. Reverend Sharpe was also a creative force as a playwright, producer, and choir director, whose work inspired many. Described as a lifelong servant-leader, she dedicated over six decades to ministry, community development, and public service, shaping generations with her faith, intellect, and courage. The resolution acknowledges her preceding daughter in death and notes her legacy of love and community, extending condolences to her family and congregations.

https://www.ilga.gov/Legislation/BillStatus?DocNum=607&GAID=18&DocTypeID=SR&SessionID=114&GA=104