MEMORIAL-BARBARA & KALEB DEER

104th Regular Session Introduced by Sonya Harper

The resolution honors and memorializes Barbara Deer and her son Kaleb Deer for their community service and extends condolences to their family and neighbors.

Resolution Adopted

Overview

Type: House Resolution (HR)

Subject: Memorial tribute to Barbara Deer and her son Kaleb Deer

Jurisdiction: Illinois

Sponsor: Representative Sonya Harper (co-sponsor)

Status: Filed with the Clerk (April 17, 2026)

This bill is a ceremonial resolution recognizing the lives and community service of Barbara Deer and her son Kaleb Deer, both of Chicago, and extending condolences to their family and friends.

1) Purpose and Intent

To publicly mourn the deaths of Barbara Deer (age 54) and Kaleb Deer (age 23).

To honor Barbara Deer for her professional and community contributions, highlighting her roles as:

Licensed speech-language pathologist
Owner of a private speech pathology practice
Advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion
Community volunteer and leader
Member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, with involvement in social justice initiatives and local organizations
Contributor to community-focused writing and engagement

To acknowledge Kaleb Deer as a compassionate individual who embodied service and family values.

To acknowledge the Deer family’s longstanding commitment to community service and public engagement, and to extend sympathy to relatives and the broader community, particularly in West Side Chicago and North Lawndale.

To note the broader context of bereavement in the community, including the recent loss of family patriarch Dennis Deer.

2) Key Provisions and Provisions/Changes

Recognition: The resolution formally expresses sorrow and memorializes Barbara Deer and Kaleb Deer.

Condolences: It extends sincere condolences to their family, friends, and those who knew them.

Public Acknowledgment: Aims to present a suitable copy of the resolution to the Deer family as an expression of deepest sympathy.

Non-legislative Nature: As a memorial resolution, it does not create new laws, funding, or regulatory changes. It serves a ceremonial honorific purpose.

3) Who or What Would Be Affected

Primary Beneficiaries: Barbara Deer and Kaleb Deer’s family and friends, along with the Chicago community they touched.

Public Acknowledgment: The Illinois House of Representatives would formally recognize and memorialize the Deers.

No Direct Policy Impact: The resolution does not alter state statutes, budgets, or government programs.

4) Procedural and Timeline Aspects

Introduction/Filed: April 17, 2026

Process: As a House Resolution, it will be considered in the Illinois House in the usual ceremonial or memorialization process. If approved, it would be adopted by the House and distributed as a formal copy to the family.

Scope: Limited to symbolic recognition; nothing in the text suggests accompanying legislation or fiscal implications.

Notable Details

Barbara Deer’s credentials: B.S. in Communication Disorders (Jackson State University) and M.A. in Speech-Language Pathology (UIUC); licensed in Illinois; certified by ASHA.

Barbara Deer’s professional and community roles emphasize access to care, entrepreneurship in private practice, and advocacy for diversity and inclusion.

Kaleb Deer’s portrayal centers on his values of service, care, and family, reinforcing the family’s legacy of community engagement.

The resolution references ongoing grief in the community, particularly in North Lawndale and West Side Chicago.

This summary presents HR 825 as a solemn, commemorative measure recognizing the lives and community impact of Barbara and Kaleb Deer.

Bill