Worker’s Memorial Day: Friends and family remember electrician, Champaign bartender killed while working

Amanda Brennan
·2 min read

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA) — April 28 is National Worker’s Memorial Day. It’s a time to honor and remember those who have lost their lives on the job. Several labor unions want to make sure everyone who goes to work comes home at the end of the day.

For some families, they’ll forever have holes in their hearts after their loved ones were killed while working. Two of those are the Pellums and Hardways.

Brandon Hardway was a general manager at Pour Brothers in Downtown Champaign when he was shot and killed right outside in February 2024.

Kevin Pellum was an electrician. He was killed while driving between job sites in Macon County in 2000.

Now, they will always be remembered at the Champaign County Worker’s Memorial near Dodds Park.

“It’s a reminder about job site safety and just trying to return home in the same condition you go to work in,” Matthew Pellum, Kevin’s son, said.

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He later followed in his dad’s footsteps as an electrician as well.

“He was on the line side. I’m an inside wireman so it’s a little bit different as far as what we do on a day-to-day basis but we’re still union brothers in the end,” he explained.

Now, Matthew is looking back on happy memories, like going to motorcycle races together.

Jim Hardway is remembering the good times too. One of his favorites was from a 2008 New York City trip.

“We did a week out there. Saw lots of stuff. Saw three Yankees games,” Jim explained.

Brandon loved sports, including the University of Michigan and the Detroit Lions as well.

The day he died was emotional for his family.

“I told him that I was proud of him and when he got there, his mom would be waiting on him,” Jim reflected.

It was also hard for his family by choice at Pour Brothers.

“He was one of their first employees they had. He felt that was his second home,” Jim said.

Seeing both Brandon’s and Kevin’s names etched in on the Memorial means a lot to their loved ones, and they are honored their family could be included.

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