HR1135 95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR1135 LRB095 20619 KXB 48730 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are saddened to learn of the death of Dr. Gwindelle Wilson Ponder of Chicago, who passed away on January 30, 2008; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Gwindelle Wilson Ponder, an award-winning distinguished educator who championed education as a high school teacher, college professor, and devoted mother proudly celebrated her 80th birthday at The Congregational Church of Park Manor in June of 2007 with more than 200 fellow church members, former colleagues, sorors, friends, neighbors, and family; this joyous celebration reflected her unwavering commitment to her family, church, and community, as well as theirs to her; and

WHEREAS, She was the daughter of the late Reverend and Mrs. (Flossie Farmer) Dennis N. Wilson, who both nurtured her spiritual growth and development; Reverend Wilson, the patriarch of the prominent Wilson family, was the preeminent minister of Ebenezer AME Church for 10 years; Flossie Farmer Wilson, a college-educated, successful minority female business owner, owned a home-based beauty shop and was a top award-winning entrepreneur for Sarah Coventry, the first direct selling fashion company in the world; Flossie Farmer Wilson was related to James Farmer, one of the founders and leaders of the civil rights organization, Congress of Racial Equality (CORE); in 1998, President Bill Clinton awarded James Farmer the Congressional Medal of Freedom; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Ponder grew up in Charleston, South Carolina, where she graduated from Avery Institute in 1944; she received a B.A. in mathematics from Fisk University in 1948, an M.A. in mathematics from Columbia University in New York in 1951, and a Ph.D. in mathematics/education from Heed University in Broward County, Florida in 1978; and

WHEREAS, She married Alvin F. Ponder II and three children were born to this union: Dr. Alvin F. Ponder III, Mr. Darryl D. Ponder, and Anita J. Ponder, Esq; although this union did not survive the test of time, she was always devoted to the education, development, and success of each of her children; she touched the lives of countless persons from all walks of life who benefited from her caring guidance, support, humor, and splendid candor; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Ponder taught mathematics in the Chicago Public School system for 16 years, 11 of which were at Wendell Phillips High School; she was subsequently a mathematics professor at Kennedy-King College for 19 years; she achieved the rank of professor in 1985 and had bestowed upon her the Distinguished Professorship Award in 1988-89; a Distinguished Professor from each City College is selected by the faculty and administrators of that college and is awarded for the professor's outstanding achievements in teaching, creative leadership, dedicated service, and the enhancement of the intellectual and cultural life of the academic community; and

WHEREAS, Some of Dr. Ponder's noteworthy accomplishments at Kennedy-King include service on the Faculty Council Committee, Rank Committee, Registration and Recruitment Committee, Faculty Evaluation Committee, Mentor Advisor for Retention Committee and Convocation Committee; she coordinated the mathematics laboratory, tutored students, and cochaired the Welch Memorial Mathematics Competition; she frequently arranged for successful persons to speak to her classes to share their professional experiences and to supplement the students' intellectual and motivational enrichment; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Ponder had an impressive civic and community service record, serving on the Stewardship Council, the June Circle and the Music Committee of The Congregational Church of Park Manor; she co-chaired the Membership Committee of the Chicago Area Fisk University Alumni Association; and she was a judge for Chicago Public Schools Academic Olympics; she chaired the Ninth Annual Tea of the Women's Auxiliary Board of Provident Hospital, and she raised the largest-ever amount of funds for the hospital at a single event; she was the Vice President of West Chesterfield Garden Club; a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Theta Omega Chapter; a member of the Vernon Park Community Council; a member of the Women's Board of DuSable Museum of African-American History; the Vice President of the Chicago Area Fisk University Alumni Association; and a member of the American Rose Art and Charity Club; she also served as a community representative for the first Local School Council at Harlan Community Academy; and

WHEREAS, Beyond the educational arena, Dr. Ponder had other noteworthy interests and talents, including being an outstanding cook and hostess, an enthusiastic gardener, an accomplished seamstress, a competitive bridge player, an avid world traveler, an African-American art collector and one of the best dressed-women in Chicago; because she lived life to its fullest and enjoyed every moment of it, her death, despite her age, seems quite untimely to those who knew and loved her; and

WHEREAS, Surviving Dr. Ponder are her daughter, Anita J. Ponder, Esq.; her two sons, Dr. Alvin F. Ponder III and Mr. Darryl D. Ponder; her grandson, Mr. Brian Ponder; her three sister-in-laws, Dr. Mildred Ponder Stennis, Ms. Ann Wilson, and Ms. Gladys Wilson; her nieces and nephews, the Honorable Denise Wilson-Taylor, Dr. Dennis Norman Wilson (Marva), Decatur Ward Wilson II (Cheryl), Mr. Dexter Norman Wilson (Renee), and Dr. Lynette Wilson-Phillips (Jonathan); her grandnieces and grandnephews; her cousin, Vivienne Cornell; her mother's adopted granddaughter, Mrs. Jamesetta Boyd Nichols (Raymond); and numerous other relatives and friends; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn, along with her family and friends, the passing of Dr. Gwindelle Wilson Ponder; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Dr. Gwindelle Wilson Ponder as an expression of our sincere sympathy.