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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 Verna
4Lisa Baker, who passed away on November 28, 2012; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Verna Baker was born on March 28, 1953, in
6Chicago, and was raised in Robbins and Blue Island; her parents
7were Bettie Jean and Joseph Donald Boyd; she married Larry D.
8Baker on December 21, 1985; and
 
9    WHEREAS, Verna Baker graduated from Thomas J. Kellar Junior
10High School in 1967; after graduating from Dwight D. Eisenhower
11High School in 1971, she attended Moraine Valley Community
12College in Palos Hills, where she received an associate degree
13in 1973; after working various jobs, she desired to further her
14education, and enrolled at St. Xavier University in Chicago,
15where she received a bachelor's degree in speech and language
16pathology in 1983; she earned her Master of Arts from Concordia
17University in River Forest in 2000; she also enrolled in the
18Doctoral Program at Northern Illinois University; and
 
19    WHEREAS, Verna Baker taught 5th grade at Bethel Christian
20School and its Child Development Program; when the job of
21Administrative Director of Bethel Educational Services became
22available, she applied and was chosen by the Board of Directors

 

 

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1to fill the position; and
 
2    WHEREAS, Verna Baker served as a volunteer at Bethel New
3Life and at Bethel Lutheran Church; from 2000 to 2003, she
4served as an Assistant Professor of Education and Assistant
5Director of the Office of Field Experience at Concordia
6University in River Forest; she was recently employed at the
7Chicago International Charter School by PYK Services as a
8speech para-professional; she also choreographed the Robbins
9Village Activity Guild Cotillion; and
 
10    WHEREAS, Verna Baker was baptized at the age of 5 at Good
11Shepard Lutheran Church in Robbins, where she attended until
121985; during this time, she and her husband moved to the West
13Side of Chicago and eventually joined Bethel Lutheran Church;
14as a member of the church, she worked on every committee and
15held many major positions in the church; she was a soloist in
16the choir and worked with the youth of the church, Sunday
17School, Confirmation, Vacation Bible School, Bible Study, and
18the Christian Education Ministry until her passing; she also
19gave occasional sermons at the church; she was also a board
20member for Bethel New Life; and
 
21    WHEREAS, Verna Baker enjoyed photography, quilting,
22sewing, catering, interior decorating, singing, writing, and
23public speaking; she was also an excellent card player and

 

 

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1played Bid Whist regularly with family and friends; and
 
2    WHEREAS, Verna Baker was preceded in death by her mother,
3Bettie Jean Boyd; her cousin, Toni D. Christmas; and her
4lifelong friend, Mary Morgan Brown; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Verna Baker is survived by her devoted husband,
6Larry D. Baker; her daughters, Cachet Joy Baker-Walker (James)
7and Jasmine Janee' Baker; her stepson, Maurice Baker (Shaque);
8her beloved grandchildren, Talia M. Baker, Ashante B. Baker,
9Verlaina L. Baker, Anariah Walker, and Mariah Walker; her
10father, Joseph Donald Boyd; her siblings, Steven A. Boyd, Jo
11Anna M. Boyd, and Brenda S. Boyd; her sisters-in-law, Sandra L.
12Santee and Claire Baker; her cousin, Arthur Raymond Jackson
13(Joanna); her nephew and godson, Carey B. Boyd; her devoted
14cousin and sister, Victoria Napolez; her faithful cousin, Damon
15Knight; her loving friends, Amella Chambers-Little and Dennis
16Hersey; the members of her church family; her devoted friends,
17Deborah Williams, Ivory Banks, Keisha Banks, Roger Jones,
18Terkeysa Clay Patterson; the children of Bethel Lutheran Church
19and the Chicago International Charter School; her co-workers;
20and her many other family members and friends; therefore, be it
 
21    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
22NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
23we mourn, along with his family and friends, the passing of

 

 

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1Verna Lisa Baker; and be it further
 
2    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
3presented to the family of Verna Baker as an expression of our
4sympathy.