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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

  
 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to 
3learn of the death of  Betsy W. Stockard-Odeneal of Decatur, who 
4passed away on June 28, 2015; and
  
 
5    WHEREAS, Betsy Stockard-Odeneal was born on June 13, 1946 
6in Bloomington; her parents were James C. and Edna Lewis; and
  
 
7    WHEREAS, Betsy Stockard-Odeneal was employed as a 
8substance abuse counselor at the Wells Center for 7 years; and
  
 
9    WHEREAS, Betsy Stockard-Odeneal was a longtime member of 
10the North Jasper Street Church of Christ; and
 
11    WHEREAS, Betsy Stockard-Odeneal was well known in the 
12Decatur community and was one of the civic leaders of the city; 
13she was the first African-American woman to be elected to the 
14Decatur City Council; she also initiated the "Stop the Violence 
15Marches" and began Central Illinois' first violence gang 
16prevention agency, The Youth Empowerment Agency, in 1993; and
  
 
17    WHEREAS, Betsy Stockard-Odeneal was preceded in death by 
18her parents; her husband, Michael; 2 sons, John and Gregory 
19Howard; 4 sisters, Bertha Hansen, Beatrice Steward, Mae Helen 
20Gant, and Betty Jean Taylor; and a brother, Sammy Lewis; and
  
 
 
 
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1    WHEREAS, Betsy Stockard-Odeneal is survived by 4 sons, 
2Rodney Howard, Melvin (friend, Tracy Dickerson) Reed, Jamison 
3(Katrina) Ambrose, Mark Ambrose; a daughter, Tamara Howard; a 
4sister, Pauline (Charles) Maudin; 11 grandchildren; 3 
5great-grandchildren; her special loved ones, Cynthia Brown, 
6Gloria Smith, and Libby James; and her many nieces, nephews, 
7other relatives, church family, and friends; therefore, be it
  
 
8    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-NINTH GENERAL 
9ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we, along with her 
10family and friends, mourn the passing of Betsy W. 
11Stockard-Odeneal; and be it further
  
 
12    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
13presented to the family of Betsy Stockard-Odeneal as an 
14expression of our sympathy.