IL SR1113

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

Bonds was a dedicated civil rights leader in Peoria for over 50 years, instrumental in securing the NAACP building donation and having the Pearly M. Bonds Community Center named in her honor in 2014.

Bonds was a founding visionary of Peoria's African American Hall of Fame Museum in 1987 and was inducted in March 1996 as a mentor and adviser to museum leaders.

Bonds maintained a strong faith commitment for over 50 years at Ward Chapel A.M.E. Church and other congregations, serving as pastoral advisor, pastor's aide, steward, choir member, and organizing voter registration drives.

Bonds received multiple 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).