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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of
3Representatives are saddened to learn of the death of Rev.
4Thomas G. Henry Sr., who passed away on March 9, 2021; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Rev. Thomas Henry Sr. was born in West Point,
6Mississippi to Daniel W. and Sally L. Henry on September 11,
71936; he attended West Point schools; after relocating to
8Chicago, he attended Crane High School, where he played
9baseball and football; he married Lucille Archibald, and they
10had five children; he graduated from Wells Evening School; he
11earned his Associate in Social Science from Olive Harvey
12College; he attended McKinley Theological Seminary, Bishop
13College Institute, and Roosevelt University; and
 
14    WHEREAS, Rev. Thomas Henry Sr. committed to his faith
15around the age of 14; he was called to the ministry in 1959; he
16preached his trial sermon at Friendship Baptist Church under
17the tutelage of the late Pastor Sheldon Hall; he was appointed
18junior church pastor of the Mozart/First Baptist
19Congregational Church in 1967, where he served and ministered
20to children for several years; he later became the assistant
21pastor under the late Rev. Dr. Arthur Griffin; he became the
22founding pastor of Austin Baptist United Church of Christ in
231973, where he served as a dedicated pastor for 47 years until

 

 

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1the time of his passing; he was a great leader to his flock,
2and he mentored and helped many people in the community; he had
3a vast knowledge of scripture and was known as a bible teaching
4preacher; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Rev. Thomas Henry Sr. was a firm believer in
6higher learning; during his 50 years of service, he started
7many programs to enhance the lives of young people in the
8Austin community; he founded the Austin Christian School and
9served as executive director of the Austin Baptist UCC Day
10Care & Head Start Program; he provided summer jobs, day camp,
11and food pantries; he also served as a truant officer for
12Chicago Public Schools, as director of the youth program for
13the Chicago Archdiocese, and as a prison chaplain for the Cook
14County Sheriff's Department; and
 
15    WHEREAS, Rev. Thomas Henry Sr. was known for his sense of
16humor and his smile that always started in his eyes; he had a
17beautiful tenor voice, loved music and singing, and had been a
18member of the Thompson Community Singers, where he met his
19wife; he was an avid reader; he enjoyed watching the news,
20traveling, and sports, especially baseball; he will be
21remembered as a kind, generous man who dedicated his life to
22serving others; and
 
23    WHEREAS, Rev. Thomas Henry Sr. was preceded in death by

 

 

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1his parents; his sisters, Willie McLaurin and Rosa Lavine; and
2his brothers, Charles Henry, Booker T. Henry, and John Henry;
3and
 
4    WHEREAS, Rev. Thomas Henry Sr. is survived by his brother,
5Daniel Henry (Lois); his sisters, Mary Sykes and Madelyn
6Williams; his sister-in-law, Bobbi Henry; his children, Thomas
7G. Henry Jr., Patrice McClellan, LaShaun Crump (Todd), Michael
8Henry (Veranda), Bridget Henry, and Jelisa Matthews; his
9grandchildren, Demetrius Haywood, Byron Turner (Aiesha), Omari
10McClellan (Charlotte), Shani Douglas (Danyale), Zachary Henry,
11Blake Henry (Celeste), Zoie Henry, Drew Henry, and Jaliah
12Matthews; 14 great-grandchildren; other children he considered
13and raised as his own; his best friend, Ernesto Scott and his
14extended family; the members of Austin Baptist United Church
15of Christ; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and
16friends; therefore, be it
 
17    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE
18HUNDRED SECOND GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
19we mourn the passing of Rev. Thomas G. Henry Sr. and extend our
20sincere condolences to his family, friends, and all who knew
21and loved him; and be it further
 
22    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
23presented to the family of Rev. Thomas Henry Sr. as an

 

 

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1expression of our deepest sympathy.