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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

  
 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to 
3learn of the death of  Equellia Nancy Woods, who passed away on 
4July 26, 2016; and
  
 
5    WHEREAS, Equellia Woods was born on April 21, 1918 in 
6Newnan, Georgia; her parents were Paul and Victoria Powell; in 
7her early teenage years, she left school to help support her 
8family doing domestic work in and around Anniston, Alabama; she 
9returned to school in 1977 to earn her General Education 
10Diploma; she married Henry Woods on February 6, 1942; and
  
 
11    WHEREAS, Equellia Woods and her husband, Henry, moved to 
12Chicago's Bronzeville area during the Great Migration of the 
13late 1940s; they became members of St. John Baptist Church; and
  
 
14    WHEREAS, After working at numerous jobs that were 
15recommended by friends, Equellia Woods graduated from the 
16National Institute of Nursing in Chicago on June 12, 1949; she 
17began her nursing career at Providence Hospital in Chicago and 
18began to provide private nursing services to a group of elite 
19clients; she cared for many lawyers, business entrepreneurs, 
20and judges; in the late 1950s, she was hired to care for 
21philanthropist Edith B. Wells, who eventually became more than 
22just a client as she provided lawyers to assist Equellia and 
 
 
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1her husband with the purchase of their home in 1959; after 
2Edith B. Wells passed away in 1981, she continued to assist 
3clients until her retirement in 1986; and
  
 
4    WHEREAS, Equellia Woods was preceded in death by her 
5husband, Henry Woods, and her siblings, Charles Powell, Ruby 
6Woods, George Powell, Elnora Ross, Mattie Toney, and Willie 
7Powell; and
  
 
8    WHEREAS, Equellia Woods is survived by her sisters, Lola 
9Abbney, Francella Boyd, and Julia Johnson; her children, Paula 
10Scott, Edward (Tammie) Boyd, and John (Patricia) Boyd; her 
11grandchildren, Victoria, Cencere, Kenya, and Triniti Scott; 
12her son-in-law, Kenny Scott; and many nieces, nephews, cousins, 
13and neighbors; therefore, be it
  
 
14    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-NINTH GENERAL 
15ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we, along with his 
16family and friends, mourn the passing of Equellia Nancy Woods; 
17and be it further
  
 
18    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
19presented to the family of Equellia Woods as an expression of 
20our sympathy.