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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 Reverend
4Clara Jean McKinney Puckett of Chicago, who passed away on
5October 18, 2010; and
 
6    WHEREAS, She was born on August 28, 1938, in Memphis,
7Tennessee, to Clarence and Mattie Mae Smith; she was baptized
8at an early age; she attended White Station Grammar School and
9graduated from Manassas High School in Memphis; and
 
10    WHEREAS, She moved to Chicago and met her husband, Quentin
11Puckett; she attended Marion Business College and earned a
12degree in Medical Assistance; she earned an Associate of Arts
13degree from Olive Harvey College; she completed courses in
14Sociology and Psychology at Chicago State University; she held
15certificated in nutrition, food service, and sanitation from
16Olive Harvey College; she was a licensed beautician and pursued
17Cosmetology; through home study, she also obtained credentials
18in Physical Therapy; and
 
19    WHEREAS, She was a community liaison for All Chicago Focus
20Newspaper, and one of the pioneers who helped elect Harold
21Washington as Chicago's first black Mayor; she worked
22vigorously in the political campaigns to elect State

 

 

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1Representative Monique Davis and Congressman Danny K. Davis;
2she was a member of the Power Circle Congregation, where she
3also participated in the Writer's Guild and Praise Dance
4Ministry; she was a member of Quaker House and Brothers of the
5Elderly; she was known for her diligent service and longtime
6membership in the TAGers, an organization working on behalf of
7Chicago State University; she was a member and volunteer at
8Operation PUSH and a member of the Creation and Conservation of
9Wealth, Inc.; and
 
10    WHEREAS, She was devoted to community improvement and was
11an advocate for seniors; she worked with the Chicago Department
12on Aging and Disability; she started a Grand Parents Group
13dedicated to lighten the load of caring for grandchildren; she
14was active in the Girl Scouts of Chicago, a volunteer and
15supporter of the Meatchem Youth Center, and held office in the
16United Black Youth Council of America; and
 
17    WHEREAS, She was the co-host the radio talk show "Consumer
18Eye,"; she spoke on many occasions to groups; she started her
19company, Mattie's Caring Hands, a full-scale maid and
20maintenance service; she founded Universal Networking
21Consultants in 1982; she established the Think Tank Ministry
22and the College Care Package Program; she also taught arts and
23crafts while working as an assistant teacher at the St.
24Carthage Day Care and Woodlawn Day Care Centers; and
 

 

 

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1    WHEREAS, Reverend Clara Puckett leaves behind her sons,
2Quitus and Quinshedrick; her daughter, Quintyra; her
3grandchildren, Nashid, Tariz, Musa, Jaheed, Nissan, and
4Tuneasha; her great-grandson, Jahzeel; her step-children,
5Charles, Victor, and Jackie; her nieces and nephews, a host of
6great nieces and great nephews; her brothers, Tony McKinney,
7Larry Smith, and Glenn Smith; her sisters, Pauline Washington
8and Leonia Pointer; her aunts, Bessie Jones, Margarine
9Robinson, Geneva Cook, Ernestine Coleman, and Ossie Moss; a
10host of cousins who enriched her life; her sister-in-law,
11Marcie Puckett; and her son-in-law, Darvin Williams; also, a
12tremendous extended family are left behind to reflect on the
13celebrated life of Reverend Clara Puckett; her daughters,
14Cassandra Scott, Gwendolyn Wells, Deborah Gray, Dorothea Drew,
15Oneva Scott, Nicole Watson, and Sharon Smith; her sons, Brian
16Smith and Herman Ward; her sisters, Mary Hooker, Claudia
17Ingram, Elizabeth Jacks, Doris Redic, Dee Ingram, Tracy Taylor,
18Tabatha (Taffica) White, and Gloria Seifullah; and her best
19friend, Dorothy Carpenter; and a host of friends and
20associates; therefore, be it
 
21    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
22NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we
23mourn, along with her family and friends, the passing of
24Reverend Clara Jean McKinney Puckett; and be it further
 

 

 

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1    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
2presented to the family of Reverend Clara Jean McKinney Puckett
3as a symbol of our sincere sympathy.