SR0401 95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0401 LRB095 14067 GRL 39919 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Reverend C.L. Fairchild of Waukegan, who passed away on October 10, 2007; and

WHEREAS, Reverend C.L. Fairchild was born in Cotton Plant, Arkansas in 1936; his family moved to Chicago two years later; during his time in Chicago, he was very active in sports, music, and his church; and

WHEREAS, Reverend C.L. Fairchild served as senior pastor at the Greater Faith Baptist Church in Waukegan for 27 years; as senior pastor, he developed a fine reputation as a kind and generous man who would give people money out of his pocket to help them afford food and rent; and

WHEREAS, Reverend C.L. Fairchild was an award winning singer and producer of gospel music; he recorded and produced numerous albums with the Voices of Greater Faith; his album "Let's Go to Church" was nominated for a Stella Award; he also directed and taught music around the country and performed with gospel music legends James Cleveland and Willie Webb; and

WHEREAS, Reverend C.L. Fairchild was an active member of his community; he was an advocate for changing the name of Utica Street in Waukegan into Martin Luther King Drive in 2000; in 1998, he led the North Shore Pastor's Conference in organizing a unity rally against the Ku Klux Klan in Waukegan; in 2003, he was a candidate for Mayor of Waukegan in the Democratic primary, before his campaign was cut short due to illness; and

WHEREAS, Reverend C.L. Fairchild is survived by his wife; his 6 children; his 10 grandchildren; and his 8 great-grandchildren; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn, along with his family and friends, the passing of Reverend C.L. Fairchild; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Reverend C.L. Fairchild as an expression of our sympathy.