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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to
3learn of the death of Birdia Ruth (Woods) Hawthorne of Alton,
4who passed away on July 6, 2013; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Ruth Hawthorne was born on September 9, 1947, in
6Carthage, Mississippi, to Lovie (Tate) and Earnest Woods; she
7was raised in Alton and graduated from Alton Senior High School
8and Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville; she married
9Leonard E. Hawthorne on August 7, 1971; and
 
10    WHEREAS, Ruth Hawthorne loved literature and taught
11English and reading at Central Junior High School, West Middle
12School, and East Middle School in Alton; she retired in May
132003 after 34 years as a teacher; and
 
14    WHEREAS, Ruth Hawthorne was a dedicated volunteer and
15worked with several organizations in the Alton community,
16including the National Council of Negro Women, Inc., the Delta
17Kappa Gamma Society, the Madison County Urban League Guild, the
18National Association for the Advancement of Colored People Back
19to School Committee, the Charmaine Chapman Society of the
20United Way of Greater Saint Louis, the Illinois Retired
21Teachers Association, Madison County Unit 1, the Oasis Shelter
22for Women and Children, and the Women's History Coalition; and
 

 

 

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1    WHEREAS, Ruth Hawthorne was an active member of Pilgrim
2Rest Missionary Baptist Church in Alton, where she served with
3the usher, scholarship, beautification, and kitchen
4ministries; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Ruth Hawthorne was preceded in death by her
6father, Earnest; her maternal grandparents, Will and Amanda
7Tate; and her paternal grandparents, Jimmy and Cora Woods; and
 
8    WHEREAS, Ruth Hawthorne is survived by her husband,
9Leonard; her daughter, Melia Lynn Hawthorne (fiance Kevin
10Rice); her son, Antoine L. (Rebecca) Lawrence; her mother,
11Lovie; her sister, Dr. Wanda Earnestine Woods Everage; her
12brother, Gary D. Woods; her nephews and niece, Carlton, Robert,
13Rylee, and Moory; and a host of extended family members;
14therefore, be it
 
15    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL
16ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of
17Birdia Ruth (Woods) Hawthorne, and extend our sincere
18condolences to her family, friends, and all who knew and loved
19her; and be it further
 
20    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
21presented to the family of Ruth Hawthorne as an expression of

 

 

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1our deepest sympathy.