Remembering

Bobo loved everyone and everyone loved him. He had such a passion for life. His laughter filled a room, and it was matched only by the laughter of those around him enjoying his jokes and stories. He was a horseshoe-throwing star, a marathon runner, an amazing dancer and he loved a good party. He had […]

Elaine Diane Roth was the picture of kindness. She always had a smile that was gentle and contagious, and she rarely had a conversation that didn’t mention Jesus. Her unwavering love for our Lord, her selfless nature and the way the Holy Spirit shown through her made Elaine special. She had a servant’s heart of […]

In 2016, as members of the Springfield-Decatur Area Alumnae Chapter (SDAAC) of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority promoted the annual Pre-Kwanzaa Expo, a call was received from Joan Huggins, a Delta new to the area, asking how she could assist. From then on, she became an active member of SDAAC – attending meetings, serving as general […]

I lost my mom and my best friend six months ago. She was an amazing person, funny and fun, opinionated, political, religious and smart. She lusted after Clark Gable, adored John Kennedy, worshipped Jesus Christ, idolized her father, enjoyed music, dancing, Jack Daniels and an occasional cigarette. She loved to read. She loved to collect. […]

Candace “Candy” Cain left this world in the early morning hours on March 29. Candy would do her best to provide the homeless by getting them food and giving them blankets. Candy loved to read and was a devoted reader of crime stories and mysteries. She was a worker, and on Nov. 25, 1993, she […]

Larry Eugene Morris died on Thanksgiving Day this year. I met Larry some 65 years ago. He was my oldest and dearest friend. We were like brothers. Larry enlisted in the U.S. Navy and then the U.S. Army, serving for more than 20 years, including several tours in Vietnam. He was a well-decorated veteran with […]

Leo “Lee” Dondanville, P.E., S.E., didn’t expect to spend his career working for one engineering firm. He had scheduled interviews with firms across the country after he finished two years of post-college service in the U.S. Air Force in 1956. When Walter E. Hanson called that year with an invitation to join his new company, […]

“I Shall Lift You Up” Our daughter dedicated her life to helping others overcome difficulties. Teaching was a perfect fit for her. For example, when the parent of one of Laura’s fourth graders became unable to transport her daughter to school during the fourth quarter, Laura transported the student daily so the student would not […]

In her 61 years of life, Selvarine Jones worked everywhere from restaurants and retail to city government, the faith community and in the arts, where she mentored dancers and brought a new rhythm to her church and to the Springfield Area Arts Council. To those she mentored and associated with in Springfield, she was known […]

Norman Frederick Rovey II – Fred to most everyone – had a knack. At 10, he was driving bulldozers – his father ran N.F. Rovey and Son Excavating. Growing up on South Fourth Street, Rovey once declared that he hoped to become a garbage hauler. Instead, he became a Springfield firefighter, rising to the rank […]

Dr. Clarice Ford lived a storied life before coming to Springfield where her impact will be felt for generations to come. Ford earned degrees from Antioch University and Fielding Graduate University. She held positions at Berry College, Youngstown State University and Ohio State University. Her first positions at University of Illinois Springfield, in 2008, were […]

From his graduation in 1959 at Northwestern University School of Law until he died Aug. 14, 2020, at age 84, James Robert Thompson made an indelible imprint on Illinois history. Over those six decades, he lived life large, most of it in public view from one end of the state to the other. Thus, his […]