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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened
3to learn of the death of Judith Jo "Judy" Whitaker of Granite
4City, who passed away on January 13, 2022; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Judy Whitaker was born to Samuel B. and Josephine
6H. (Majetic) Georgeff in Granite City on November 22, 1940;
7she was raised in Madison and was a resident of Granite City
8for the majority of her life; she married Walter L. Whitaker in
9Granite City on December 2, 1961, and he preceded her in death
10on January 2, 2019; and
 
11    WHEREAS, Judy Whitaker was appointed city clerk of Granite
12City by then-Mayor Ron Selph in 1994; she was elected in 1994
13and served in that position until her retirement on May 1,
142021; and
 
15    WHEREAS, Prior to being elected city clerk, Judy Whitaker
16was elected and served as alderman for the 6th Ward from 1984
17to 1994, where she served as chairman of the Sanitation,
18Pollution Control, Insurance, Dare, Past Beautification
19Program, Street & Alley, Police, and Fire, Water & Ambulance
20Committees; along with a committee of civic leaders, she
21spearheaded and re-established Santa's Cabin in 1996; she
22began the Santa's Holiday Avenue Parade in Granite City in

 

 

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11997; she was also instrumental in reinstating the
2Neighborhood Watch Program for the entire city; and
 
3    WHEREAS, Judy Whitaker served the City of Granite City in
4one capacity or another for five decades, starting as a
5precinct committeeman in 1974 and continuing in that capacity
6until her passing; during her tenure as a precinct
7committeeman, she also served as a Democratic State Committee
8Woman; and
 
9    WHEREAS, Judy Whitaker was a member of Holy Family
10Catholic Church, the Ladies Eagle Auxiliary #126, the Ladies
11Elkettes, and the Madison County Police Association; she was a
12humanitarian of the Madison County Humane Society; she loved
13animals and cherished her pets; she enjoyed fishing and
14traveling and will be remembered for the love and special
15times shared with her family and friends; and
 
16    WHEREAS, Judy Whitaker was preceded in death by her
17parents and her husband of 57 years, Walter L. Whitaker; and
 
18    WHEREAS, Judy Whitaker is survived by her daughter, Kristy
19J. (Paul) Bassler; her son, Mark Whitaker; her grandchildren,
20Hunter (Jessica) Bassler and Samantha Bassler; her brother,
21Sam (Georganne) Georgeff; her nephew, Michael (Lana) Georgeff;
22her niece, Bethany Georgeff; her great-nephew, Brendan

 

 

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1Georgeff; her other extended family members; and her many
2friends; therefore, be it
 
3    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED SECOND GENERAL
4ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of
5Judith Jo "Judy" Whitaker and extend our sincere condolences
6to her family, friends, and all who knew and loved her; and be
7it further
 
8    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
9presented to the family of Judy Whitaker as an expression of
10our deepest sympathy.