SR0400 94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0400 LRB094 13599 CSA 48464 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Senate of the State of Illinois learned with sadness of the death of John W. Somers of Marion on August 6, 2005; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Somers was born August 1, 1940, in Rutherford, Tennessee, to William Malcom and Ruby Nell (Hoskins) Somers; he married Judy Bynum on September 4, 1960, in Dyer, Tennessee; and

WHEREAS, He was called to preach in 1958 when he was a senior in high school; he began his pastoral ministry two years later and received degrees from Ouachita Baptist University, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, and Luther Rice Seminary; he was the pastor in churches in Tennessee, Indiana, Texas, and Illinois, including the First Baptist Church in DuQuoin; and

WHEREAS, He and his wife, along with Les and Sandy Snyder of West Frankfort, founded Community of Faith Church in November 1979; he also served as Director of the Department of Evangelism for the Illinois Baptist State Association; he preached in many revivals across the country and spent 36 years in pastoral ministry; and

WHEREAS, He was preceded in death by his parents; and

WHEREAS, The passing of John Somers is felt by all who knew and loved him, especially his wife, Judy; his sons and daughters-in-law, Jon Mark and Pam Somers and Jeff and Leslie Somers; his granddaughters, Brittany, Rani, Nicole, and Ciara Somers; his brother and sister-in-law, Jack and Pam Somers; his nephews, Mike and Greg Somers; his stepmother, Janie Somers; and a host of his friends, whom he loved dearly; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of John Somers and extend our sincerest condolences to his family, friends, and community; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to his family as an expression of our deepest sympathy.