IL HR0861

Illinois House of Representatives mourns the death of Pearly Mae Bonds of Peoria, who passed away on June 29, 2024

Pearly Bonds was a dedicated civil rights leader in Peoria for over 50 years and instrumental in securing the NAACP building, which was renamed the Pearly M. Bonds Community Center in 2014

She was a founding visionary of Peoria's African American Hall of Fame Museum in 1987 and was inducted in March 1996

Pearly Bonds was a long-time member of Ward Chapel A.M.E. Church serving in multiple roles including pastoral advisor, steward, and choir member, and founded the Willing Workers Club and led voter registration drives

She received numerous awards including the NAACP 25 Years or More Service Diploma (1984), Rosa Parks Award (2009), and Valeska S. Hinton Human Rights Award from the YWCA of Peoria (2010)