SR0685 97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0685 LRB097 20944 GRL 68059 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Delores Winifred Storman Ray, who passed away on March 7, 2012; and

WHEREAS, Delores Ray was born on July 16, 1935, in Shannon, Mississippi; her parents were the late Robert Perry Storman, Sr. and Ora Mae Lyons Storman; and

WHEREAS, Delores Ray attended Garfield and Carver Elementary Schools, and received her high school diploma from East St. Louis Senior High School at the age of 15; she subsequently attended the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign for 2 years; while there, she was inducted into Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Alpha Nu Chapter; in 1954, she entered the Washington University School of Medicine's Department of Physical Therapy, where she earned her bachelor's degree in 1956; she later earned her master's degree in health administration from Webster University; and

WHEREAS, After graduating from college, Delores Ray accepted a position as a physical therapist at Blodgett Memorial Hospital in Grand Rapids, Michigan; in 1960, she returned home to East St. Louis, where she accepted a position in physical therapy at Centreville Township Hospital; in the fall of 1968, Christian Welfare Hospital she was offered a position as a physical therapist at Christian Welfare Hospital, which led to her heading the hospital's entire Rehabilitation Unit; in 1981, she joined the Comprehensive Mental Health Center of St. Clair County, where she served as Executive Director until her retirement in 2000; and

WHEREAS, Delores Ray was a member of Southern Mission Missionary Baptist Church, under the religious guidance of Pastor Jerome Jackson; she was an active member and was appointed to the trustee board at the church; she was also chair of the church's scholarship committee; and

WHEREAS, Delores Ray was an active member and past President of the East St. Louis Alumnae; she served as President of the Delta Economic Development Corporation Board for 8 years and was instrumental in helping to build the Delta Child Development Center; she was also a board member for Storman-Stufflin School (Storman Academy) for many years; and

WHEREAS, Delores Ray is survived by her husband of 43 years, Frank James Ray; her daughter, Karen Delores Cross; her son, Jason Frank Ray; her sister, Jacqueline Storman Turnage; her brother, Robert Perry Storman; her aunt, Addie Oldham; her sisters-in-law, Catherine Jones, Constance Owens, and Deborah Storman; her brothers-in-law, Paul Turnage and Floyd Ray; her sister-cousins, Anita Cooley and Sheila Oldham; her special nieces and nephews; her friend-sisters, Minnie Austin and Jacqueline Settles; her many loving relatives and friends; and her caregivers, Priscilla Mason and Deborah Storman; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn, along with her family and friends, the passing of Delores Winifred Storman Ray; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Delores Ray as an expression of our sympathy.