SR0805 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0805 LRB104 21341 ECR 36206 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Raymond Smith Jr., who passed away on March 2, 2026; and

WHEREAS, Raymond Smith was born to John Raymond and Ruth Jimola Smith in Etta, Mississippi on February 18, 1935; he graduated from Liberty Hill School in 1958, and he later earned several trade certifications; he married Mattie Mae Brown on June 6, 1959, and they had six children, later raising four additional children and fostering more than 25 children; and

WHEREAS, Raymond Smith, after moving to Chicago, Illinois in 1960, worked as a maintenance worker at Photo Press in Broadview, where he was later promoted to a binary press controller; he then worked at International Paper, retiring in June 2000; and

WHEREAS, Raymond Smith was a member of the Greater Bethlehem Healing Temple, where he served on the usher board, was ordained as a deacon, and was appointed to the board of trustees; he later became a member of House of Prayer Apostolic Church, where he continued to serve as an active deacon; and

WHEREAS, Raymond Smith regularly volunteered at Catholic Charities, and he and his wife were influential volunteers in the Kankakee community for 17 years, with both being named Volunteer of the Year by the Daily Journal of Kankakee; and

WHEREAS, Raymond Smith was an avid gardener, always sharing his bountiful harvest with friends, neighbors, and the community; and

WHEREAS, Raymond Smith was a righteous, hardworking, and dedicated man, husband, father, and grandfather, and he will be remembered as a pillar of the community; and

WHEREAS, Raymond Smith was preceded in death by his parents; his son, Draper; and his siblings, Jesse, Lois Anne, Sallie, and James; and

WHEREAS, Raymond Smith is survived by his wife of 66 years and eight months, Mattie Mae Smith; his children, Raymond Franklin III, Phyllis Jordan, Cabrini, Yolanda (Antoine) Sharon, April, Jason, and Ronell; his grandchildren, Destiny Lee, T'ania Jordan, Taylor Smith, Anaiyah Jordan, Myles Parrish, Kaleb Smith, Phillip Jordan, Daniel Concepcion, Ronell Smith Jr., Samia Smith, and Liam Smith; his great-grandchildren, Alijah Bradford and Demi Hampton; six siblings; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Raymond Smith Jr. 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 Raymond Smith as an expression of our deepest sympathy.