SR0712 93RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0712 LRB093 23862 CSA 53921 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Senate of the State of Illinois learned with sadness of the death of Mildred Junie Mae Beasley of Lovejoy on January 20, 2004; and

WHEREAS, She was born July 11, 1924, the sixth of ten children born to Adam and Junie Jackson in Coffeeville, Mississippi; and

WHEREAS, In 1944, she joined her mother and other family members to live in Lovejoy; during her last years, after two marriages, several moves, and raising her family of two sons and four daughters, she again settled in Lovejoy; and

WHEREAS, From the early 1940's through the early 1990's, she was acknowledged as one of the premiere gospel vocalists to come out of Lovejoy; from the beginning, it was clear that she had been blessed with a great singing voice and personality; and

WHEREAS, For many years, she participated and served as the Director of the Antioch Baptist Church Choir (for over 40 years), the Director of Lovejoy Community Union Chorus, a member of East Saint Louis Jordoniars, a member of East Saint Louis Salvation Army Choir, and a member of Eastern Star; and

WHEREAS, The passing of Mildred Junie Mae Beasley will be felt by all who knew and loved her, especially her sons, Gerald Quincy Jones and Edward Gene Glasper; her daughters, Versa Lee Hampton, Ruby Christian, Betty Lawson, and Anita Grace Jones; her son-in-law, Charles Christian; her sisters, Frances Washington, Pearl Scurlock, and Tommie Williams; her 15 grandchildren; her 20 great-grandchildren; and her two great great-grandchildren; and

WHEREAS, Mildred will be remembered not only as a great gospel singer, but also as a Christian woman who was beloved by her family, friends, and neighbors alike; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Mildred Junie Mae Beasley and extend our sincerest condolences to her family, friends, and community; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Mildred Junie Mae Beasley as an expression of our deepest sympathy.