SR0961 102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0961 LRB102 27190 ECR 38776 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Deirdre Marie Clayton, who passed away on January 2, 2022; and

WHEREAS, Deirdre Clayton married Charles Clayton at Trinity Episcopal Church in Chicago on September 2, 1978; and

WHEREAS, Deirdre Clayton was committed to her faith; she was baptized and confirmed at Atonement Episcopal Church in Washington, D.C.; she later attended Trinity Episcopal Church in Chicago, where she served as Sunday school superintendent; alongside her family, she transferred to St. Edmund's Episcopal Church in Chicago, where she served as the high school Sunday school teacher; and

WHEREAS, Alongside her husband, Deirdre Clayton eventually transferred to the Church of the Holy Family in Park Forest, where she was an active part of community outreach, coordinating health fairs, Halloween parties, and spaghetti dinners for the community; she also helped coordinate the church's annual participation in the Park Forest Youth Day; she and her husband hosted their 40th wedding anniversary party at the church as a fundraiser, raising more than $3,000; and

WHEREAS, In her later years, Deirdre Clayton was active with her sorority in the Joliet Area/South Suburban Alumnae Chapter and rekindled her friendships with Sorors from Zeta Chi; she also joined the Provident Women's Auxiliary to help at Provident Hospital; and

WHEREAS, After retirement, Deirdre Clayton and her husband took stepping classes, traveled to Cuba, and saw every musical, play, and concert in town with their friends and family; and

WHEREAS, Deirdre Clayton was preceded in death by her father, Raymond Ward; her mother, Dolores; and her brother, Raymond (Scott) Jr.; and

WHEREAS, Deirdre Clayton is survived by her husband, Charles Clayton Sr.; her son, Charles (Crystal) Clayton Jr.; her daughter, Christina; her nieces, Courtney (Donald) Corbin, Angie (Ben) Gardner, and Danielle Clayton; her nephews, George (Valerie) Edmondson Jr., Lewis Powell, and Scott (Nicole) Hall; her first cousins, Anton Welsh and Eva Jean McRae; her sisters-in-law, Belinda Ward and Pam Edmondson; a host of cousins; and her many friends; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED SECOND GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Deirdre Marie Clayton and extend our sincere condolences to her family, friends, and all who knew and loved her; and be it further

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