SR0007 97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0007 LRB097 05663 KXB 45726 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Farries "Mickey" Henry Morrison, Jr. of Springfield, who passed away on January 5, 2011; and

WHEREAS, He was born on March 24, 1941, in Springfield, the eldest child of Reverend Farries H. Sr. and Mother Margaret Iola Morrison; he graduated from Springfield Feitshans High School in 1959; he earned a basketball scholarship to Western Illinois University and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in English and Journalism; he earned a Master of Arts in Education Administration from the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign, and a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership from Southern Illinois University in Carbondale; and

WHEREAS, He worked for Springfield School District 186 for 38 years and retired from the District in 2000, after serving for 23 years as the assistant principal at Springfield High School; and

WHEREAS, He was an ordained elder in the Church of God in Christ, serving as assistant pastor and later as pastor of Prayer Wheel Church of God in Christ; he also served as pastor of Bethel Church of God in Christ in Bermuda; he remained a lifetime member of Prayer Wheel Church of God in Christ, currently pastored by his nephew, Reverend Juan L. Morrison, Jr., and was a member of Emmanuel Temple Church of God in Christ, pastored by his brother, Reverend Juan L. Morrison, Sr., Ph.D.; and

WHEREAS, He was preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Margaret Ann Morrison; and

WHEREAS, Farries "Mickey" Henry Morrison, Jr. leaves behind his devoted wife of nearly 20 years, Betty Joe (Owens); his brother, Reverend Juan L. Morrison, Sr., Ph.D. (Clementine); his children, Lisa L. McClanahan (Hertis), Farries H. Morrison, III (Nancy), Yvette A. Morrison (Steven Williams), Michelle R. Casey (Ezra), Harold Hughes-Osby, Michael J. Morrison (Stephanie), Margaret M. Morrison, Mia A. Morrison, and Morrio Morrison (Natasha); his 18 grandchildren; his past wives, Carolyn Toney (Risby) and Reba Morrison (Reese); his step-children, Rodney D. Blackmon, Lytra R. Wilson, Shawn A. Blackmon (Shana), Kimberly Blackmon-Kouakeu, and Edgar Blackmon (Melanie); and his 15 step-grandchildren; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn, along with his friends and family, the passing of Farries "Mickey" Henry Morrison, Jr.; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Farries "Mickey" Henry Morrison, Jr. as a symbol of our sincere sympathy.