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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened
3to learn of the death of Marvella "Madea" Alexander Humphrey,
4who passed away on August 2, 2021; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Marvella Humphrey was born to Fred Douglas and
6Ida Jane Alexander in Marvell, Arkansas on March 24, 1919; a
7lover of knowledge, she perfected her reading, writing, and
8various other skills throughout her life, despite receiving
9only a fourth grade education; she married James Humphrey in
101937; and
 
11    WHEREAS, When Marvella Humphrey's children were young, she
12was a stay-at-home mom; when the children were older, she
13gained employment pressing clothes at a laundromat; in 1957,
14the family relocated to Chicago, and she opened her own home
15daycare; she cared for many children until her retirement in
161994; and
 
17    WHEREAS, In 1958, Marvella Humphrey joined Mt. Sinai
18Baptist Church where she was a choir member; in 1975, she moved
19her membership to United Baptist Church under the leadership
20of Reverend Wilson Daniels; she was an active and faithful
21member who worked with the clothing ministry, was a member of
22Sunday School Class #2, served as a missionary who visited the

 

 

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1sick and shut-in, served as a member of the Mother's Board, and
2sang in the choir until she was 101 years old; and
 
3    WHEREAS, Anyone who knew Marvella Humphrey knew she loved
4church and her church family; she loved church so much that she
5felt the need to be there whenever the church doors were
6opened; with the assistance of her friends, Pearline Flemings,
7Earlene Jackson, and Ida Wright, she tried to attend every
8service, activity, and funeral; and
 
9    WHEREAS, Marvella Humphrey was an example of faith,
10humility, joy, and kindness; she had a generous heart and
11would give her last to anyone even if she needed it herself;
12she loved her family and made them her number one priority;
13family gatherings brought her great joy; she was a natural
14comedian with a quirky sense of humor and an infectious laugh;
15she was a forgiving person with a heart of gold; and
 
16    WHEREAS, Marvella Humphrey was preceded in death by her
17parents; her siblings, Welton, Ertha Lean, Samuel, and Dozie
18and Naomi, Arlena, Florence, and Maude Ella; her husband; her
19son, James Jr.; and her two grandchildren, Lydia and Anthony;
20and
 
21    WHEREAS, Marvella Humphrey is survived by her daughters,
22Margaret, Verlyn, and Katherine (George); her grandson, Marcus

 

 

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1(Patricia); her great-grandson, Sean; her eight grandchildren;
2her twenty-two great-grandchildren; her nineteen
3great-great-grandchildren; her sister, Dorsey B. Robinson; and
4a host of relatives, extended family, and many friends;
5therefore, be it
 
6    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED SECOND GENERAL
7ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of
8Marvella "Madea" Alexander Humphrey and extend our sincere
9condolences to her family, friends, and all who knew and loved
10her; and be it further
 
11    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
12presented to the family of Marvella Humphrey as an expression
13of our deepest sympathy.