SR2219 99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR2219 LRB099 23357 MST 50812 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of John Howard Hudson Sr. of Chicago, who passed away on August 21, 2016; and

WHEREAS, John Hudson Sr. was born in Chicago to Percy and Marie Hudson; he attended Carter Elementary School, Englewood High School, and Cortez Peters Business College; and

WHEREAS, John Hudson Sr. sold insurance in Chatham for American General; he also sold shoes at Robson's, where he outfitted singers, including Lou Rawls and singer-Chicago Defender journalist, Earl Calloway; he also provided shoes for Tabernacle soloist, Doris Sykes, and her entire choir; he sold shoes to stars who would wander over from the Regal Theater, including comic Redd Foxx; and

WHEREAS, John Hudson Sr. and his wife operated the Hudson Funeral Home; and

WHEREAS, John Hudson Sr. was minister of music at Pleasant Gift Missionary Baptist Church for over 40 years, which was founded by his Mississippi family and became a destination for African Americans moving to Chicago from the south; Pleasant Gift launched the careers of his cousin, actress-singer Jennifer Hudson, and his nieces, the Nichols Sisters; another relative started the Canton Spirituals gospel quartet; and

WHEREAS, John Hudson Sr. once helped organize a choir of more than 100 singers for a special performance at Medinah Temple with Thomas A. Dorsey, the father of gospel music; and

WHEREAS, John Hudson Sr. directed the gospel standard "Don't Forget the Family Prayer" at the annual Hudson family reunion, which traditionally closes the gathering, now in its 60th year; and

WHEREAS, John Hudson Sr.'s enjoyed visiting his family in Mississippi and traveling to the south; he also enjoyed pound cake and watching "Wheel of Fortune"; and

WHEREAS, John Hudson Sr. is survived by his wife of 48 years, Dorothy (Sutton); his sons, John Jr., Paris, and Prentice; three grandchildren; his sisters, Ruth, Julia, and Hattie; his brothers, Clarence, Robert, Michael, and Donald; and many cousins, nephews, and nieces; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of John Howard Hudson Sr., and extend our sincere condolences to his family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of John Hudson Sr. as an expression of our deepest sympathy.