SR0241 99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0241 LRB099 11553 MST 33035 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Bessie Lee Williams, who passed away on March 13, 2015; and

WHEREAS, Bessie Williams was born in Mt. Bayou, Mississippi on May 30, 1930 to Eddie and Minola Hunter; she attended schools in Shelby, Mississippi; she married Clarence Williams on April 25, 1948 and they settled in Chicago in 1951; and

WHEREAS, Bessie Williams was a member of Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church; and

WHEREAS, Bessie Williams was preceded in death by her husband of 57 years, Clarence; her daughter, Diane Ramey; her 2 grandsons, Fredrick Williams and Jerome Bennett, Jr.; her parents; and 7 of her siblings; and

WHEREAS, Bessie Williams is survived by her 5 daughters, Ethel Joyner (Reynold), Mildred Bennett (Jerome, Sr.), Tammy Brown (Arch), Tisa, and Michele Toney (Kenneth); her 6 sons, Clarence, Jr., Jimmy (Jeanette), James (Darlene), Henry (Venetria), Kenneth, and Michael (Alberta); her 2 brothers, Council and Henry Hunter; her 29 grandchildren; her 42 great-grandchildren; her 4 great-great-grandchildren; her God-daughter, Cynthia Cooley; her God-son, Tommie Cooper; a host of other relatives; a special friend, Lorraine Hailey; and a host of other friends; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Bessie Lee Williams, and extend our sincere condolences to her family, friends, and all who knew and loved her; and be it further

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