SR0915 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0915 LRB096 23381 GRL 42744 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Delores Hutt Longley, who passed away on August 7, 2010; and

WHEREAS, Delores Longley was born to the union of Horace Hutt, Sr., and Beulah Rivere Hutt; she lived in St. Louis, Missouri her entire life; she married her high school sweetheart, James Longley, on March 31, 1945; to this union, 2 children were born, Ronald Eric Longley and Karen Denise Longley (Gordy); and

WHEREAS, Delores Longley attended public schools and earned her bachelor's degree in education and her master's degree in education at Stowe Teachers College; she later earned her doctor of philosophy degree in urban education from Saint Louis University; and

WHEREAS, Delores Longley served in the St. Louis Public School system for 38 years; during her career, she served as a teacher, as principal of Carr, Dumas, and Banneker Elementary Schools, and as an administrator; and

WHEREAS, Delores Longley was dedicated to civil rights and racial equality from a young age; she served as the Director of the St. Louis Public School system's Desegregation Office, where she managed the school system's desegregation plan in response to court orders; she also helped individual schools develop curriculum to meet their specific needs concerning the desegregation plan; and

WHEREAS, After her retirement from the St. Louis Public Schools system, Delores Longley continued her great love of education and human and civil rights by serving as a consultant at Maryville University; and

WHEREAS, Delores Longley was deeply committed to her community and church; she was a member of Phi Delta Kappa and Pi Lambda Theta, professional education honor societies, and the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority; she was raised in the Methodist Church, but joined the Centennial Christian Church when she married and she served on the Usher Board at Centennial as long as she was physically able; and

WHEREAS, Delores Longley enjoyed playing bridge and played with great passion and verve; she was a member of The Tallies and the Grand Dekkers bridge clubs and played regularly with her large circle of friends; she also enjoyed foreign travel with her husband and seeing the world on cruises throughout Europe and the Caribbean; and

WHEREAS, Delores Longley was preceded in death by her sister; 2 brothers from a previous marriage of her mother; and a sister and brother from a previous marriage of her father; and

WHEREAS, During their marriage of 65 years, Delores Longley and James were blessed with a wonderful family, including their 2 children and their grandchildren, Rahny Longley, Juliet James Gordy, and Ronson Longley; Delores was also blessed with a sister, Jean Hutt Houston, and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn, along with her family and friends, the passing of Delores Hutt Longley; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Delores Longley as an expression of our sympathy.