HR0396 97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0396 LRB097 12089 KXB 55948 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are saddened to learn of the death of Willie T. Brown, who passed away on May 16, 2011; and

WHEREAS, He was born in Blytheville, Arkansas on October 3, 1930, to the late Oscar Dee & Gussie Florence Brown; he was the sixth of ten children born to this union; both parents preceded him in death as well as his brothers, Percy, Roosevelt, Theoda, Freddie L., and J.L.; and his sisters, Corine and Hosea; his daughter, Kimberly Ann Brown; and his granddaughter, Telisa Meshay Greene; and

WHEREAS, He received his education in the Blytheville Public School System; he accepted Christ at the age of 9 under the leadership of Reverend Lee Milton of King Solomon Baptist Church in Blytheville, Arkansas; he later moved to Gary, Indiana and from there moved to Chicago in 1953; and

WHEREAS, In January 1953, he found a church home, Holly Springs M.B. Church; he served on the Usher Board and was later crowned deacon on March 30, 1958 and continued to serve faithfully as a deacon for a total of 53 years; in 1956, he organized a gospel spiritual quartet group called the Spiritual Shepherds; in 1958, his late mother re-named the group the Space Spiritual Singers; he loved quartet singing and promoted many gospel quartet programs highlighting notable gospel singers; and

WHEREAS, In 1963, Willie T. met Dessie R. Thompson and they were united in holy matrimony on December 18, 1963; and

WHEREAS, He worked with several companies that specialized in building and road construction, including Richard Schumacher Construction Co., Central Blacktop, and Jerry Lasko and Lawn Builders; in 1974, he started his own construction company, Brown's Asphalt Paving; and

WHEREAS, He was affectionately called "Uncle Dub" and "Uncle Lockie"; he loved his family, his work, his church, and all activities involving the service of the Lord; and

WHEREAS, Willie T. Brown leaves to cherish his memory his loving and devoted wife of 46 years, Dessie; his daughters, Winola (Rickey) Greene, Karla (Reginald) Webb, Evelyn, Valerie, and Ramona (Frederick) Lawrence; his sons, Vincent, Victor, Patrick, and Vernon; his grandchildren; one great-grandchild; his brothers, Roscoe (Celeste) Brown and Namon (Gussie) Brown; his sisters-in-law, Mary Francis Brown and Hattie Brown; the Holly Springs M.B. Church Family; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and many friends; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn, along with his family and friends, the passing of Willie T. Brown; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Willie T. Brown as a symbol of our sincere sympathy.