Claradenise Morgan Booklet

SUNRISE February 18, 1958

SUNSET December 3, 2021

Sunday, December 12, 2021 | 11:00 AM Progressive Funeral Parlor 7208 S. Stony Island Chicago, IL 60649

Was born to Rubye and Frank Morgan on February 18, 1958 in Chicago, Illinois.

CLARADENISE grew up on Green Street, Kimbark Avenue, and 74th Street in Englewood, Hyde Park, and South Shore, respectively, with her sisters Ruderial and Willa F. She attended Chicago’s Guggenheim and Bret Harte Elementary Schools. She graduated from Kenwood Academy High School. She continued her education at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale Illinois, where she studied Radiologic Sciences.

CLARADENISE joined the Christian Science Church at an early age and excelled in academics and playing piano and clarinet during her youth.

CLARADENISE worked at Time Magazine as a customer service correspondent handling global correspondence on behalf of American Family Publishers, the University of Chicago Hospitals as an x-ray technician, and the Chicago Housing Authority as executive assistant to then chairman Vince Lane. She also apprenticed at the Worsham College of Mortuary Science studying to become a mortician under sponsorship of the Progressive Funeral Home.

CLARADENISE joined the Chicago Police Force in 1994 where she served and protected the citizens of Chicago for 21 years until her retirement in 2015. During her time as a Chicago Police Officer, she worked on various task forces in the 6th District and as the lead executive assistant to the Captain of the 22nd District.

CLARADENISE’s CPD colleagues relied on her well-honed computer skills as a resourceful internet sleuth who patiently culled sites researching and discovering important clues and information buried online and overlooked by others.

Post retirement, CLARADENISE patrolled the retail district in the South Shore neighborhood as a security officer for the South Shore Patrol Force, worked side-by-side with her son, Jason, as security detail for former NBA player Scottie Pippen, and served as security detail for Reverend Willie Wilson during his 2019 mayoral run.

CLARADENISE especially enjoyed spending time with family and friends, singing, dancing, and cooking lasagna and macaroni & cheese. She was an avid reader, especially of medical science

journals and Black genre books. She was a lover of photos with a record number of over 3,000 on Facebook alone. As a child, she developed an affinity for tamales and everything purple and lavender. She had an infectious laugh and a smile that matched the brightest of sun rays. CLARADENISE had an incredibly big heart taking into her home those who were down on their luck and helping them get back on their feet.

CLARADENISE was strong willed and determined to experience life having survived a previous serious illness. On December 3, 2021 Friday morning at 1:06 A.M., while resting at her daughter’s home, the angels came and the curtain of CLARADENISE’s life fell.

Her immortal spirit, then free of this earthly tabernacle took its flight back to God, seeking a dwelling place in that house not made with hands, but eternal in the heavens.

CLARADENISE cherished her family and was a loving mother to her three children: Jason Francis, Jenai Marie, and Dakota; CLARADENISE was preceded in death by her infant son Gerald Frederick, and her mother Rubye Lillian Ferguson Morgan and her father Frank Willard Morgan.

She was previously married to Gerald Smith and Gregory Young.

CLARADENISE was a loving grandmother to five grandchildren: Kennedy Torian, Deaushana, Javontae, Jeshon and Rechai Mikayle, and five great-grandchildren: Javontae, Jr., Nyliss, Nyght, Amora and Ronin.

CLARADENISE leaves to mourn her death two sisters: Ruderial Bascomb (Wilbur) and Willa Frances; one niece: Ruderial Deanna; and a host of other nieces and nephews, dear relatives and loving friends.

Order of Service

MUSICAL PRELUDE “I Need You Now” (Al Jacobs and Jimmie Crane, Composers) and “We Fall Down” (Chris Tomlin, Writer) PRAYER AND SALUTE Saint Jude Police League of Chicago SCRIPTURE The Twenty-Third Psalm, Regina Thomas SELECTION • SOLO Kenyatta Gaines, Vocalist “Stand” (Donnie McClurkin, Writer) APPRECIATION REMARKS F. Scott Winslow, Family Friend SERMON Pastor Peter Shelley SELECTION • SOLO Kenyatta Gaines, Vocalist “Gone Too Soon,” (Michael Jackson) BENEDICTION Pastor Peter Shelley SELECTIONS Various of Claradenise’s Favorites Songs OBITUARY Regina Thomas POEMS Adrienne Barney & Tanjihia Simmons

“Safely Home”

I am home in heaven, dear ones; Oh, so happy and so bright There is perfect joy and beauty In this everlasting light.

All the pain and grief is over, Every restless tossing passed; I am now at peace forever Safely home in heaven at last.

There is work still waiting for you So you must not idly stand; Do it now, while life remainethYou shall rest in Jesus’ land When that work is all complete, He will gently call you home; Oh, the rapture of that meeting, Oh, the joy to see you come!

23rd Psalm

The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.

He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the

INTERMENT Private

Acknowledgment

CLARADENISE’s children, Jason, Jenai and Dakota, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and family would like to express their sincere gratitude and appreciation to their relatives, neighbors and many friends for all acts of kindness shown to them during the illness and passing of their beloved CLARADENISE. May God continue to bless and keep each and every one of you.

“Always aim high, work hard, and care deeply about what you believe in. And, when you stumble, keep faith. And, when you’re knocked down, get right back up and never listen to anyone who says you can’t or shouldn’t go on.”

- HRC Arrangements Entrusted to:

7208 S. Stony Island | Chicago, IL 60649 www.progressivefuneralparlor.com 773 . 288 . 7110