SR0731LRB101 14757 MST 63715 r

1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to
3learn of the death of Annette Butler, who passed away on
4September 30, 2019; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Annette Butler was born in Chicago to Ozell and
6Earl Walter Smith on September 14, 1938; she attended St.
7Joseph Grammar School and sang with the choir at Mt. Sinai
8Baptist Church; she graduated from Lucy Flower High School and,
9along with some of her siblings, formed the notable singing
10group, The Crusaders; she attended Woodrow Wilson Jr. College
11(Kennedy–King College), where she studied music; she married
12Jerry Butler, a fellow member of The Crusaders, on June 21,
131959; and
 
14    WHEREAS, While performing in various venues across the
15city, Annette Butler spent time working as a nurse's aide for
16Presbyterian St. Luke Hospital; and
 
17    WHEREAS, As her husband's career as a solo recording artist
18and songwriter flourished, Annette Butler became involved with
19several charitable causes; she joined The Better Halves, a club
20comprised of many famous artists and wives of celebrities who
21worked together to raise money for charities across Chicago;
22and
 

 

 

SR0731- 2 -LRB101 14757 MST 63715 r

1    WHEREAS, Annette Butler always put family first; she opened
2her home to countless family members and friends; she was a
3true artist with many talents and enjoyed painting,
4calligraphy, designing clothes, and even creating pieces of art
5from pistachio shells; she had a wonderful sarcastic sense of
6humor; she was a friend to all, humble, and full of love; she
7had a strong faith and found great peace and comfort in
8Buddhism; and
 
9    WHEREAS, Annette Butler was preceded in death by her
10parents; her sister, Mable; and her brother, Benny; and
 
11    WHEREAS, Annette Butler is survived by her husband of 60
12years, Jerry; her sons, Randall (Raeshannon) and Anthony; her
13grandchildren, Tykeisha, Malik, and Jeriel; her
14great-grandchild, Tristan; her brother, Earl; her sister,
15Susan; and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, extended family,
16and friends; therefore, be it
 
17    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL
18ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of
19Annette Butler and extend our sincere condolences to her
20family, friends, and all who knew and loved her; and be it
21further
 

 

 

SR0731- 3 -LRB101 14757 MST 63715 r

1    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
2presented to the family of Annette Butler as an expression of
3our deepest sympathy.