SR0733 98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0733 LRB098 14764 GRL 49668 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Bishop Emeritus Willie F. Newbon; and

WHEREAS, Willie Newbon was born on October 23, 1936 in Brownsville, Tennessee; his parents were Willie F. and Mattie Jelks Newbon; he married Patsy N. Gude on March 26, 1960; and

WHEREAS, Willie Newbon believed in working and started his first job at the Robert Halls clothing store during his high school years; he also enjoyed sports and was an avid football player while in high school; after graduation, he joined the United States Army and Reserves; and

WHEREAS, Willie Newbon received Christ at the age of 12 at the First Church of God in Christ under the leadership of Pastor Cleveland Bell; in May of 1961, he was licensed as a minister under the late Bishop Daniel Bostick; in May of 1967, he was ordained as an Elder under the late Bishop L.H. Norman; and

WHEREAS, In December of 1971, Willie Newbon founded Community Temple Church of God in Christ; the doors of Community Temple Church of God in Christ were opened on the first Sunday in December of 1971 in a small store front; the first service included 13 members and many children; under Bishop Newbon's leadership, many were saved and the membership began to grow; and

WHEREAS, In 1984, Willie Newbon founded Liberty Temple Church of God in Christ in Champaign, where he pastored for 2 years; he served faithfully both as District Superintendent and as Administrative Assistant under the late Bishop Theodore Taylor Rose; in November of 1998, he was appointed and installed as the Jurisdictional Prelate of Central Illinois by the late Bishop Chandler David Owens; and

WHEREAS, Willie Newbon was preceded in death by his parents; his grandparents; his sisters, Sarah Joyner and Ruth Ann Turnbo; his brother, Leroy (Sonny) Newbon; and his brother-in-law, Booker T. Joyner; and

WHEREAS, Willie Newbon is survived by his loving wife of 53 years, Senior First Lady Pat N. Newbon; his children, Pastor Andrei (Marcia) Newbon, Leslie Newbon, Eric (Holly) Newbon, and Sacorea Newbon; his grandchildren, Andrenique Newbon, Alexander Newbon, Alexis Newbon, Ashlyn Newbon, and Addison Newbon; his sisters, Louise (Howard) Roberson, Gladys (Mac) Shields, Joan Lee, Dorothy (Charles) Helm, Linda Lee, Bernadine Lee, and Joyce Lee; his brothers, Joel (Ida Ruth) Rivers and UL (Billie) Newbon; his sisters-in-law, Mary (Donald) Williamson, Frances Hill, Ina Sanders, and Willie Mae Newbon; his brother-in-law, Charles (Kathy) Gude; his uncle, Paul (Ardelia) Jelks; his aunt, Lettie M. Allen; and his many nieces, nephews, and cousins; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we, along with his family and friends, mourn the passing of Bishop Emeritus Willie F. Newbon; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Willie Newbon as an expression of our sympathy.