SR0538 95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0538 LRB095 19663 KXB 46010 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate 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 proudly celebrated her 80th birthday at the Congregational Church of Park Manor in June 2007 with more than 200 fellow church members, former colleagues, sorors, friends, neighbors, and family; she was the daughter of the late Reverend Dennis N. and Mrs. (Flossie Farmer) Wilson; and

WHEREAS, She 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, 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; and

WHEREAS, Some of her noteworthy accomplishments at Kennedy-King include serving 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 co-chaired the Welch Memorial Mathematics Competition; she frequently arranged for speakers in her classes to share their professional experiences and to supplement the students' intellectual and motivational enrichment; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Ponder served on the Stewardship Council, the June Circle, and the Music Committee of The Congregational Church of Park Manor, and she was a judge for the 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 the 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; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Ponder served as a community representative for the first Local School Council at Harlan Community Academy; she was an outstanding cook and hostess, an accomplished seamstress, a competitive bridge player, an avid world traveler, an African-American fine art collector, and one of the best dressed-women in Chicago; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Gwindelle Wilson Ponder is survived by her two sons, Dr. Alvin F. Ponder III and Mr. Darryl D. Ponder; her daughter, Anita J. Ponder, Esq.; her grandson, Mr. Brian Ponder; her three sisters-in-law, 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), Mr. Decatur Ward Wilson II (Cheryl), Mr. Dexter Norman Wilson (Renee), and Dr. Lynette Wilson-Phillips (Jonathan); her grandnieces and grandnephews; her mother's adopted granddaughter, Ms. Jamesetta Boyd Nichols (Raymond); and numerous other relatives and friends; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE 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.