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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 Elise
4Ford Allen of Peoria, who passed away on November 3, 2021; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Elise Allen was born on July 29, 1921; she was the
6daughter of Dr. Cecil Bruce Ford, Peoria's first African
7American dentist, and Florence Harrison Ford, a well-known
8seamstress; she married James O. Allen, an inventor and
9printing magnate, in 1939, and they raised ten children; she
10was a lifelong Peorian; and
 
11    WHEREAS, Elise Allen was a well-known and beloved Peoria
12icon and a renowned civil rights activist; she made history
13when she founded The Traveler Weekly Newspaper in 1966, making
14her the first African American woman to publish and edit a
15newspaper in Illinois; through the newspaper, she pursued and
16provoked a positive dialogue for change for the disadvantaged
17in Peoria; and
 
18    WHEREAS, Elise Allen was honored with numerous awards and
19proclamations for her continuous service to the community and
20her selfless devotion to uplifting the quality of life for
21minorities and the less fortunate; and
 

 

 

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1    WHEREAS, Elise Allen was a longtime member of Heaven's
2View Christian Fellowship Church; and
 
3    WHEREAS, Elise Allen's legacy will live on through The
4Traveler Weekly Newspaper, which continues to focus on the
5true principles of democracy and keeping it a living reality
6to all Americans; and
 
7    WHEREAS, Elise Allen was preceded in death by her husband,
8James; her son, Matthew; her great-grandchild, Carol Irene;
9her sister, Florence Pickett; and her brothers, Bruce and
10Harrison Ford; and
 
11    WHEREAS, Elise Allen is survived by her children, James O.
12Allen Jr., Joy Stone, Angela (Homer) Henry, Barbara (Anthony)
13Randle, Tim (Patty) Allen, Carol Adams, Linda (Mark) Hollis,
14Gregory Allen, Janet Allen, and Norman Allen; her special
15family, Helen Margaret Jackson and Forrest Holcomb; her 38
16grandchildren; her 46 great-grandchildren; her three
17great-great-grandchildren; a host of nieces, nephews, cousins,
18and friends; and the dedicated writers of The Traveler Weekly
19Newspaper; therefore, be it
 
20    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE
21HUNDRED SECOND GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
22we mourn the passing of Elise Ford Allen and extend our sincere

 

 

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1condolences to her family, friends, and all who knew and loved
2her; and be it further
 
3    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
4presented to the family of Elise Allen as an expression of our
5deepest sympathy.