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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 Mary
4Annis Toran Smith of Chicago; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Mary Toran Smith was born on September 13, 1918,
6in Chicago to Hoseanna L. and Frank B. Toran; she graduated
7from Carter Elementary School and Englewood High School; she
8attended Wilson Junior College and Chicago's Washburn Trade
9School; she married James H.L. Smith, Jr. in 1943; and
 
10    WHEREAS, Mary Toran Smith became a member and was baptized
11at Greater Bethesda Missionary Baptist Church; she was very
12active in the church and was a member of the Christian Monarchs
13and the Les Femmes de Service, the auxiliary group for women;
14and
 
15    WHEREAS, Mary Toran Smith worked for a number of local
16businesses, and enjoyed a vibrant social life, frequenting some
17of Chicago's heralded music and entertainment venues,
18including Club De Lisa, The Pershing Hotel, The Grand Ballroom,
19and the Palm Tavern; she loved dance, travel, and good food and
20music; and
 
21    WHEREAS, Mary Toran Smith began working for the Chicago

 

 

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1Police Department in the Data Records Department in 1962 and
2would be there for 40 years; upon retirement, she was honored
3with a commendation from President George W. Bush for her
4distinguished service; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Mary Toran Smith took full advantage of what
6Chicago had to offer, from shopping in the Loop to taking in
7the sights around the city; her favorite past-times were
8watching westerns, late-night talk shows, and classic movies;
9she watched all 4 of her sons get married and become fathers
10themselves; she loved being a grandmother and being involved in
11her families' lives; and
 
12    WHEREAS, Mary Toran Smith was preceded in death by
13brothers, Arthur and Edward; her sisters, Ruth and Alzada; her
14husband, James H.L. Smith; and her sons, Michael W. Smith and
15Frederick L. Smith; and
 
16    WHEREAS, Mary Toran Smith is survived by her sons, Leonard
17S. Smith and Sidney B. Smith (Joyce); her step-daughter, Sylvia
18Washington; her grandchildren, Caroline J. Smith, Derrick
19Dorsey Whitehead, Ayanna Anderson (Wayne), Aisha Madhi
20(Ahmed), Aliya Brown (Torrey), Noel Johnson, Deen King-Smith,
21and Marian Toran Smith; and her many great-grandchildren,
22nieces, nephews, and cousins; therefore, be it
 

 

 

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1    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
2NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
3we mourn the passing of Mary Toran Smith, and we extend our
4sincere condolences to her family, friends, and all who knew
5and loved her; and be it further
 
6    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
7presented to the family of Mary Toran Smith as an expression of
8our deepest sympathy.