HR0782 LRB094 16191 HSS 51434 r

1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2     WHEREAS, The members of the House of Representatives of the
3 State of Illinois learned with sadness of the death of Coleman
4 Miller on Saturday, December 17, 2005; and
 
5     WHEREAS, He was born on March 2, 1933, to Dr. William
6 Edward and Marie Coleman Miller in Nashville, Tennessee; he
7 spent his childhood primarily in Jackson, Mississippi, with his
8 older siblings William Edward and Lucille Marie; as a young
9 adult he attended Tougaloo College and later transferred to
10 Fisk University on a basketball scholarship and earned his
11 Bachelors of Arts degree in sociology; and
 
12     WHEREAS, Upon receiving an honorable discharge as a Master
13 Sergeant, he enrolled in George Williams College in Chicago,
14 where he earned a master's degree in social work
15 administration; and
 
16     WHEREAS, He took great pride in his accomplishments as a
17 socially conscious community leader; in addition to his time in
18 the Chicago area, his long career in social work took him to
19 Cleveland, Ohio, to Brooklyn, New York, back to Cleveland,
20 Ohio, and later to Jackson, Mississippi; and
 
21     WHEREAS, In 1969, Mr. Miller moved to Evanston, Illinois,
22 and became the Executive Director of Beacon Neighborhood House
23 in Chicago; as Executive Director, he started with a budget of
24 $200,000 per year, which eventually grew under his leadership
25 to over $2,000,000; during his tenure he initiated food, work,
26 and educational programs to help people in the surrounding
27 communities in the city of Chicago; one of his major
28 accomplishments was the formation of a credit union; and
 
29     WHEREAS, He served as President of the Evanston, Illinois,
30 branch of the N.A.A.C.P. for many years and was appointed to

 

 

HR0782 - 2 - LRB094 16191 HSS 51434 r

1 public office by the Mayor of Evanston, where he served as the
2 city's township supervisor; and
 
3     WHEREAS, In 1984, Mr. Miller returned to Jackson,
4 Mississippi, where he founded a mortgage brokerage company
5 called Family Mortgage Company, Inc.; he named it Family
6 Mortgage because of his desire to build a strong family
7 business to pass down to future generations; as a prominent and
8 successful broker, he served as president of the Mortgage
9 Brokerage Association of Mississippi; and
 
10     WHEREAS, He was a member of the Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity
11 and a member of St. Mark's Episcopal Church; he wanted to be
12 remembered as a hard worker who believed in equality and civil
13 rights; he thought of himself as a dreamer and a fighter; and
 
14     WHEREAS, The passing of Coleman Miller has been deeply felt
15 by many, especially his children, Paul (Vickie), Mark
16 (Jennifer), David (Donna), and Patrice (Tim); his
17 grandchildren, Callie, Lena, Nicole, Sky, Nora, Daniel, and
18 Donovan; his former wife of 26 years, Martha Miller; and his
19 many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends; therefore, be it
 
20     RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
21 NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
22 we mourn the passing of Coleman Miller, and we extend our
23 deepest sympathy to his family, friends, and all who knew and
24 loved him; and be it further
 
25     RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
26 presented to his family as an expression of our sincerest
27 condolences.