HR0396LRB097 12089 KXB 55948 r

1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of
3Representatives are saddened to learn of the death of Willie T.
4Brown, who passed away on May 16, 2011; and
 
5    WHEREAS, He was born in Blytheville, Arkansas on October 3,
61930, to the late Oscar Dee & Gussie Florence Brown; he was the
7sixth of ten children born to this union; both parents preceded
8him in death as well as his brothers, Percy, Roosevelt, Theoda,
9Freddie L., and J.L.; and his sisters, Corine and Hosea; his
10daughter, Kimberly Ann Brown; and his granddaughter, Telisa
11Meshay Greene; and
 
12    WHEREAS, He received his education in the Blytheville
13Public School System; he accepted Christ at the age of 9 under
14the leadership of Reverend Lee Milton of King Solomon Baptist
15Church in Blytheville, Arkansas; he later moved to Gary,
16Indiana and from there moved to Chicago in 1953; and
 
17    WHEREAS, In January 1953, he found a church home, Holly
18Springs M.B. Church; he served on the Usher Board and was later
19crowned deacon on March 30, 1958 and continued to serve
20faithfully as a deacon for a total of 53 years; in 1956, he
21organized a gospel spiritual quartet group called the Spiritual
22Shepherds; in 1958, his late mother re-named the group the

 

 

HR0396- 2 -LRB097 12089 KXB 55948 r

1Space Spiritual Singers; he loved quartet singing and promoted
2many gospel quartet programs highlighting notable gospel
3singers; and
 
4    WHEREAS, In 1963, Willie T. met Dessie R. Thompson and they
5were united in holy matrimony on December 18, 1963; and
 
6    WHEREAS, He worked with several companies that specialized
7in building and road construction, including Richard
8Schumacher Construction Co., Central Blacktop, and Jerry Lasko
9and Lawn Builders; in 1974, he started his own construction
10company, Brown's Asphalt Paving; and
 
11    WHEREAS, He was affectionately called "Uncle Dub" and
12"Uncle Lockie"; he loved his family, his work, his church, and
13all activities involving the service of the Lord; and
 
14    WHEREAS, Willie T. Brown leaves to cherish his memory his
15loving and devoted wife of 46 years, Dessie; his daughters,
16Winola (Rickey) Greene, Karla (Reginald) Webb, Evelyn,
17Valerie, and Ramona (Frederick) Lawrence; his sons, Vincent,
18Victor, Patrick, and Vernon; his grandchildren; one
19great-grandchild; his brothers, Roscoe (Celeste) Brown and
20Namon (Gussie) Brown; his sisters-in-law, Mary Francis Brown
21and Hattie Brown; the Holly Springs M.B. Church Family; and a
22host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and many friends; therefore,

 

 

HR0396- 3 -LRB097 12089 KXB 55948 r

1be it
 
2    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
3NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
4we mourn, along with his family and friends, the passing of
5Willie T. Brown; and be it further
 
6    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
7presented to the family of Willie T. Brown as a symbol of our
8sincere sympathy.