HR0762 LRB095 13973 KXB 39786 r

1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2     WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of
3 Representatives are saddened to learn of the death of Mother
4 Maybelle Johnson, who passed away on September 28, 2007; and
 
5     WHEREAS, Maybelle Johnson was born on January 6, 1913; she
6 was the first born of eight children to the late Daisy and
7 Handy James in Hazel Hurst, Mississippi; Maybelle attended
8 school and graduated in Hazel Hurst, Mississippi; on June 2,
9 1928 Maybelle married Robert A. Johnson, who preceded her in
10 death ; and
 
11     WHEREAS, Maybelle accepted Christ at an early age and
12 attended the Masters Missionary Baptist Church in Hazel Hurst,
13 Mississippi; upon moving to Chicago, she became a member of the
14 Calvary Church in Chicago where she sang in the choir, leading
15 songs such as Shine on Me, Christ Is All, and All at the Altar;
16 Maybelle attended Asia M. B. Church for 34 years before
17 becoming a member of the Saint Joseph M. B. Church family;
18 under the leadership of Reverend Donald M. McFadden, Sr., she
19 served faithfully on the Mothers Board until she was called
20 home; and
 
21     WHEREAS, Mother Johnson was well gifted and talented; she
22 wrote and spoke her own poems, never using papers or notes; her

 

 

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1 talents lead her to appear on a television show called The Big
2 Hill Show as a regular in the late 1950's and the early 1960's;
3 she was very well known in many churches and was often
4 approached to share one of her poems; and
 
5     WHEREAS, Mother Johnson was known for her dynamic
6 collection of hats, that she worn so elegantly; and for her
7 color coordinated jewelry and accessories to match all her
8 wardrobe; and she was known for her words of encouragement,
9 affectionately telling others to "Hang in there" or "Keep on
10 pushing"; and
 
11     WHEREAS, Mother Maybelle Johnson was preceded in death by
12 her husband; her children, Thelma Lee, Rayfield, Narvell,
13 Essie, Arlene, Elroy (Junior), Robert Earl, and a newborn; and
 
14     WHEREAS, She leaves her three daughters, Ruby Johnson,
15 Daisy (Sammy) Holland, and Annieruth Campbell; her sister,
16 Henrietta Arnald; her twenty grandchildren; her twenty-eight
17 great-grandchildren; and her thirty-nine
18 great-great-grandchildren; and a host of nieces and nephews,
19 church family, and friends; therefore, be it
 
20     RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
21 NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we
22 mourn, along with her family and friends, the passing of Mother

 

 

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1 Maybelle Johnson; and be it further
 
2     RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
3 presented to the family of Mother Maybelle Johnson as a symbol
4 of our sympathy.