HR1338 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR1338 LRB096 22617 KXB 41938 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are pleased to congratulate Lou Della Evans-Reid of Chicago on the occasion of her 80th birthday; and

WHEREAS, LouDella Evans Reid has a national reputation as one of the most outstanding Ministers of Music this side of heaven; her unique style of directing is majestic, as well as powerful, and has enhanced the services at Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church of Chicago for almost 55 years; and

WHEREAS, LouDella Evans-Reid was the only woman among the five charter members of the Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church of Chicago, where her brother, the eminent Reverend Clay Evans, is the founder and Senior Pastor; she gave birth to the church choir, served as its first pianist, and was appointed Minister of Music in 1963; and

WHEREAS, She studied music during her childhood under the late Kate Evans of Brownsville, Tennessee; she began to use her musical ability by playing the piano for her church, the Woodlawn Baptist Church in Brownsville, Tennessee; while at Woodlawn, she also organized and led a youth singing group that became so renown that they traveled throughout the area rendering music; she also held a position of accompanist for graduation exercises at her high school in Brownsville; and

WHEREAS, Her talents were well honed by the time she moved to Chicago and helped found the Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church; she is noted for arranging such notable gospel songs as New Name In Glory and Bringing In The Sheaves, both of which have been featured in musical recordings; and

WHEREAS, LouDella's musical excellence has been showcased in many arenas, including over thirty musical releases of the Reverend Clay Evans and the Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church Choir, recordings of the National Baptist Convention, U.S.A., Inc., and numerous choral concerts across the country and throughout Europe; LouDella is known worldwide for her moving renditions of hymns such as It Is Well, Even Me, More Love To Thee, and Close To Thee; and

WHEREAS, LouDella is currently Minister of Music Emeritus at Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church and Music Advisor for the mass choirs of First Church of Deliverance; she also serves as a musical consultant for church choirs and musical groups throughout Chicago and the vicinity; in May of 2000, Lou Della received an honorary degree, "Doctor of Humane Letters" from the Arkansas Baptist College; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate Lou Della Evans-Reid on her 80th birthday and wish her continued good health and success for years to come; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Lou Della Evans-Reid as a symbol of our respect and esteem.