SR0928 94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0928 LRB094 22246 RAH 60933 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate were saddened to learn of the passing of Joyce Lauretta (Gill) Robinson on January 1, 2007; and

WHEREAS, Born on October 18, 1939, in Alton, Joyce Gill was the daughter of Harl A. Gill and Mary Lee (Watts) Gill Johnson; she was the stepdaughter of Edmond B. Johnson and was formerly married to the late Ralph Preston Robinson; and

WHEREAS, Influenced by her teacher Lula Mae Simms, Mrs. Robinson was educated as a teacher after graduating from the Alton School District and received her bachelor's and master's degrees in education from Southern Illinois University in Edwardsville; and

WHEREAS, As a student teacher in 1960, she was one of the first African Americans to teach at the integrated Alton High School and taught at the former St. Joseph's School of Nursing; in 1999, she retired from the state of Illinois after more than 35 years as a social worker at the Alton Mental Health Center; and

WHEREAS, From 1980 to 1995, she was a member of the Alton School Board as its first and only African-American woman member; for four years she served as the school board's president where she oversaw passage of the first bond issue in Alton in almost 20 years; and

WHEREAS, Mrs. Robinson chaired the Eva McDonald Women's History Coalition, was a founder, life member, and membership chair of the National Council of Negro Women, Alton Section, and served as secretary and was a life member of the Elijah P. Lovejoy Memorial; she was a third-generation member of the Federated Unity Club of Alton and was a member of the Riverbend Belles Red Hats; and

WHEREAS, A former member of Allen Chapel A.M.E. Church, she was active in Christian education and taught Sunday school for 40 years; she subsequently joined Unity Fellowship Church and was active in the Mary L. Johnson Missionaries; and

WHEREAS, Mrs. Robinson received many awards for her community service, including the YWCA of Alton Women of Distinction Award and the Elijah P. Lovejoy Human Rights Award; she was an early recipient of the Lovejoy Memorial Scholarship; and

WHEREAS, Mrs. Robinson was known for her independence, sense of humor and devotion to human rights; and

WHEREAS, Lauretta Johnson is survived by her three sons, John Eric Robinson, Ralph Preston Robinson and his wife, Stephanie, and Reginald Robinson and his wife, Lissette; her grandchildren, Preston Pierre, Kyle, Kerry, Kory, Keenan, Eliana, and Preston Jay; her niece and nephew who were like her children, Sylvia Flowers and Dwight Flowers; her sister, Joan Flowers, and her husband, Dwight; and her aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews and friends; she was preceded in death by her parents, stepfather and a brother, John Gill; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn, along with her family and friends, the death of Joyce Lauretta Robinson; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Joyce Lauretta Robinson as a sign of our condolences.