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SR0327 |
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LRB096 13230 GRL 27889 r |
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| SENATE RESOLUTION
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| WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to |
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| learn of the death of Willie J. Welch, who passed away on May |
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| 31, 2009; and
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| WHEREAS, Willie Welch was born on September 1, 1918 in |
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| Portland, Arkansas; his parents were James and Lula Welch; he |
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| married Minnie Gardner on August 13, 1968; and
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| WHEREAS, Willie Welch was an accomplished jazz musician who |
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| attended the Chicago Conservatory of Music; he formed his first |
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| band while serving as a soldier in the United States Army; |
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| after his honorable discharge in 1944 and a few stints in other |
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| groups, he formed the very popular Willie Welch Band, which had |
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| scheduled performances up until his passing; and
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| WHEREAS, Willie Welch confessed his hope in Christ at an |
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| early age and was an active member of the Merrill Avenue |
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| Baptist Church; he loved his church community and attended |
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| Sunday school and Bible classes faithfully; and
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| WHEREAS, Willie Welch was employed at Cook County Hospital |
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| for 17 years as a supervisor and union steward, serving until |
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| his retirement in 1983; and
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SR0327 |
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LRB096 13230 GRL 27889 r |
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| WHEREAS, Willie Welch was preceded in death by his parents; |
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| his siblings, Mamie Mathis, John Holmes, Elizabeth Richardson, |
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| Eldora Dotson, O.C. Perkins, Thelma Bennett, and Ora Evans; and |
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| his step-son, Robert Gardner; and
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| WHEREAS, Willie Welch is survived by his loving wife, |
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| Minnie; his children, Debra, Henrietta, Ruth, Ervin, and |
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| Barbara; his grandchildren, Raymond, Sharon, Shamari, Edward, |
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| Donald, Twanna, Tanya, Tasha, Robert, Tieria, Ervin Jr., |
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| Jabari, Dejon, Lashay, Fred, and Kaylynn; his nieces and |
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| nephews, Eugene, Lula, Estella, Elizabeth, Joan, Charles, |
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| Herman, Patricia, Jeanette, Joyce, Anita, Vera, Larry, Gail, |
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| Stephanie, Dominick, Wendy, and Michael; his 53 great-nieces |
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| and great-nephews; and his many other relatives and friends; |
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| and
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| WHEREAS, Willie Welch will be remembered by all who knew |
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| and loved him as a colorful character that adored his family |
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| and was always ready with a joke; therefore, be it
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| RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL |
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| ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn, along with |
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| his family and friends, the passing of Willie J. Welch; and be |
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| it further
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| RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be |