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| | HR1027 | | LRB098 21026 MST 58723 r |
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| 1 | | HOUSE RESOLUTION
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| 2 | | WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of |
| 3 | | Representatives are saddened to learn of the death of Frances |
| 4 | | Louise (nee Cain) Walker, who passed away on April 10, 2014; |
| 5 | | and
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| 6 | | WHEREAS, Frances Walker was born on June 9, 1929 in Athens, |
| 7 | | Alabama to James Cain and Sallie Mae (nee Sandifer) Cain; she |
| 8 | | attended schools in Alabama and Rockford and married Era Walker |
| 9 | | in 1948; and
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| 10 | | WHEREAS, Frances Walker worked at the former Illinois Bell |
| 11 | | telephone company for 15 years; she
was also an independent |
| 12 | | beauty consultant for Mary Kay Cosmetics, and
worked as a |
| 13 | | medical assistant to Dr. Fonvielle, Dr. Roberts, and Dr. |
| 14 | | Jackson; and
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| 15 | | WHEREAS, Frances Walker was a devoted member of Allen |
| 16 | | Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church
since 1949; and
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| 17 | | WHEREAS, Frances Walker was a tireless advocate for youth; |
| 18 | | she mentored,
taught, and encouraged hundreds of youth |
| 19 | | throughout her life for a
number of faith and community-based |
| 20 | | organizations; she helped sponsor youth for a trip around the |
| 21 | | world; and
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| | HR1027 | - 2 - | LRB098 21026 MST 58723 r |
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| 1 | | WHEREAS, Frances Walker was well-known for her community |
| 2 | | work with the
National Council for Negro Women, assisting in |
| 3 | | local efforts to
increase African-American participation in |
| 4 | | the United States Census and voting; she
worked diligently in |
| 5 | | helping to coordinate the Annual Black Family Reunion
and |
| 6 | | promoted efforts to help women become self-sufficient; she was |
| 7 | | a founding board member of the Hunger Coalition with
her |
| 8 | | efforts resulting in raising tens of thousands of dollars to |
| 9 | | help alleviate
hunger in Rockford and its vicinity; and
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| 10 | | WHEREAS, The Frances Walker Scholarship Fund has been |
| 11 | | established with the Community Foundation of Northern Illinois |
| 12 | | in her honor; and
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| 13 | | WHEREAS, Frances Walker was preceded in death by her |
| 14 | | husband of 61 years, Era Walker; her parents; her sister, |
| 15 | | Lillye (Cain)
Saulters; her son, Cyrus Walker; and her |
| 16 | | son-in-law, Robert Cook; and
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| 17 | | WHEREAS, Frances Walker is survived by her children, Otis |
| 18 | | Walker, Ardis (Robert) Cook, and Elizabeth (The Rev. Larry)
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| 19 | | Smith; grandchildren, Tiana (Kristophere') Owens, Marisha |
| 20 | | (Robin) Harris, M.D., and Elyssa,
Lauren, and Erin Smith; |
| 21 | | great-granddaughters, Madison
Owens and Olivia Harris; and
by |
| 22 | | many nieces, nephews, cousins, god-children, and friends; |
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| | HR1027 | - 3 - | LRB098 21026 MST 58723 r |
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| 1 | | therefore, be it
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| 2 | | RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE |
| 3 | | NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that |
| 4 | | we mourn the passing of Frances Louise Walker, and extend our |
| 5 | | sincere condolences to her family, friends, and all who knew |
| 6 | | and loved her; and be it further
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| 7 | | RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be |
| 8 | | presented to the family of Frances Walker as an expression of |
| 9 | | our deepest sympathy.
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