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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of
3Representatives are pleased to recognize Mayetta Epps Miller as
4the oldest living resident in the State of Illinois as of
5January 2012; and
 
6    WHEREAS, Mayetta Epps Miller was the oldest of 6 children,
7born on April 15, 1901, to Tom and Melissa White in Lewisville,
8Arkansas; and
 
9    WHEREAS, Mayetta Epps Miller was educated in Lewisville,
10Arkansas, and received training at Philander Smith College in
11Little Rock, Arkansas, where she became a teacher and taught in
12Arkansas for several years, sharing her love for learning; and
 
13    WHEREAS, In 1923, Mayetta Epps Miller married Travis Morris
14Epps; they relocated to East St. Louis and were married for 48
15years until his death in 1972; to this union 5 children were
16born and 4 children preceded her in death; she is survived by
17one loving and devoted son, James Levoid Epps Sr.; and
 
18    WHEREAS, In 1976, Mayetta Epps Miller was remarried to
19Cliff Miller; he preceded her in death in 1994 after 18 years
20of marriage; and
 

 

 

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1    WHEREAS, Mayetta Epps Miller was a devoted member of the
2Mt. Zion Baptist Church in East St. Louis for over 88 years and
3was recognized for service and longevity as the oldest member
4in term of years of service and age; she was active with the
5Jennie Thomas Missionary Task Force and an active Senior Usher
6for more than 50 years; and
 
7    WHEREAS, Mayetta Epps Miller was also very active in her
8community where she served as secretary for the American Legion
9Women's Auxiliary and was a member of the Willing Worker's
10Social Club for many years; and
 
11    WHEREAS, Mayetta Epps Miller celebrated her 100th birthday
12on April 15, 2001, and April 15, 2011, was her 110th birthday;
13East St. Louis Mayor Alvin Parks designated the day as "Mayetta
14Epps Miller Day" in East St. Louis; and
 
15    WHEREAS, On April 13, 2012, Mayetta Epps Miller's 111th
16birthday, she was recognized on NBC's Today Show by Willard
17Scott's "Smuckers" on air birthday acknowledgements; and
 
18    WHEREAS, Mayetta Epps Miller was listed on the internet as
19a Living Super-centenarian in the United States and on
20Wikipedia as the 14th oldest living American as of January 2012
21and the oldest living resident in the State of Illinois; and
 

 

 

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1    WHEREAS, Mayetta Epps Miller was featured in numerous
2articles in the Alton Telegraph, Belleville News Democrat, East
3St. Louis Monitor, and the St. Louis Post-Dispatch Newspapers;
4and
 
5    WHEREAS, Mayetta Epps Miller was a dedicated home-maker,
6wife, grandmother, beautician, counselor, financial planner,
7and a phenomenal lady of wisdom, who was alert and had a
8remarkable memory and legible handwriting until her death on
9December 31, 2012; therefore, be it
 
10    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
11NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
12we recognize Mayetta Epps Miller as the oldest living resident
13in the State of Illinois as of January 2012; and be it further
 
14    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
15presented to the family of Mayetta Epps Miller as an expression
16of our esteem and respect.