HR0811 99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0811 LRB099 14612 MST 38751 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives wish to congratulate Wynell Verrett-Butler on the occasion of her 80th birthday; and

WHEREAS, Wynell Verrett-Butler was born in Homer, Louisiana on October 1, 1935, the youngest of 9 siblings; she graduated from Homer Colored High School; she holds several certificates of completion, including business administration, labor relations, technical communications, how to deal with difficult people, and many others; and

WHEREAS, Wynell Verrett-Butler worked for Spiegel, Inc. for 39 years; she worked her way up from a clerk to systems engineer and developed the specifications for Vision 21 credit systems; she was the only credit employee rehired as a consultant after retirement; and

WHEREAS, Wynell Verrett-Butler is an active member of Ascension St. Susanna Catholic Church, where she serves in a leadership capacity on many parish committees, including Chair of the Parish Finance Advisory Council; she is active with many organizations, including Gamaliel of Metro Chicago, Gamaliel of Illinois, and the South Suburban Action Conference, where she is currently serving as first Vice-President; she also served for several years on the Executive Committee of the Metropolitan Alliance of Congregation; she has been involved with lobbying for tax equity, systemic education studies and funding, the development of the first new homes to be built in Harvey in more than 40 years, and the redevelopment of the Ginger Ridge Mutual Housing Association and the McKinney Center in Calumet City; and

WHEREAS, Wynell Verrett-Butler is active with the national association of the Knights and Ladies of St. Peter Claver, where she serves as Junior Daughter Counselor and she recently received an award as the Northern District Counselor of the Year; and

WHEREAS, Wynell Verrett-Butler has a personal relationship with many of our elected officials, including President Obama; and

WHEREAS, Wynell Verrett-Butler is the widow of Thomas Pitts Butler, whom she spent 47 wonderful years of marriage with; and

WHEREAS, Wynell Verrett-Butler has 2 daughters, Mauretia Verrett Carter (Jarvis) and Ericka Michelle Butler, 11 grandchildren, 5 great-grandchildren, and over 300 school and community children who affectionately refer to her as "granny" or "grandma"; she has over 150 nieces and nephews and great-nieces and nephews and too many great-great-nieces and nephews to count; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate Wynell Verrett-Butler on her 80th birthday and we wish her many more wonderful years; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Wynell Verrett-Butler as an expression of our esteem and respect.