SR0726 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0726 LRB096 21662 GRL 39114 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Herrett Clyte Parker, who passed away on January 9, 2010; and

WHEREAS, Herrett Clyte Parker was born on March 15, 1948, in St. Louis, Missouri; her parents were Elijah Clyde and Carrie Mae (Stover) Spencer; she married John M. Parker Jr. on October 23, 1966; and

WHEREAS, Herrett Clyte Parker attended and was a graduate of East St. Louis Lincoln Senior High School; she then attended Southern Illinois University in Edwardsville, where she earned college credits towards a degree in business management; she also earned an associate's degree in child development and completed specialized training in hospitality management from State Community College of East St. Louis; and

WHEREAS, Herrett Clyte Parker served her country with pride and distinction as a medical service specialist in the United States Air Force; she was honorably discharged from the Air Force in 1967; and

WHEREAS, Herrett Clyte Parker was a former employee of the Edison Brothers Shoe Company; from 1997 to 2005, she and her husband operated the Parker Garden Bed and Breakfast, the only black-owned bed and breakfast inn in the State of Illinois; the Parker Garden Bed and Breakfast earned numerous awards, including the Power of Minority Business Excellence Award from the Secretary of State, and was the subject of numerous stories from media outlets, such as KSDK-TV in St. Louis, the Kansas City Star, the New York Times, and Emerge Magazine; and

WHEREAS, Herrett Clyte Parker was a founding member of the National Black Innkeepers Association; she also served for 15 years as a spokesperson for the African-Americans Uniting for Life, where she championed the bone marrow transplant cause, educated many African-Americans about the unique need for African-American donors, and inspired hundreds of people to give a second chance at life; and

WHEREAS, Herrett Clyte Parker enjoyed designing, decorating, gardening, reading, entertaining, and having thought-provoking and impassioned conservations with others; she also enjoyed traveling with her husband, particularly her 10 years of vacations to various African countries, such as Gambia, Ghana, Togo, Benin, and Senegal; and

WHEREAS, Herrett Clyte Parker was preceded in death by her mother; and

WHEREAS, Herrett Clyte Parker is survived by her loving husband of 43 years, John; her daughter, Sunya T. Bozeman; her grandson, Delvrick J. Bozeman; her father; her brother, Bernard "Butch" Spencer; her sisters, Dianne (James) Ritchett and Sheila (Melvin) Goodwin; her aunts, Bernice Willis, Joe Ella Draper, Thelma Stover, and Theresa Looney; her uncles, Commodore Mister and Gillespie (Angie) Spencer; her father-in-law, John M. Parker; her brother-in-law, Donald Parker; her sisters-in-law, Delaree (Charles) Maddox, Gloria M. Parker, Patricia (Edmond Brown) Parker, Karen (Vernon) Davis, and Patresa A. Parker; and her many nephews, nieces, and friends; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn, along with her family and friends, the passing of Herrett Clyte Parker; and be it further

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