SR0396 93RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0396 LRB093 20219 KEF 45971 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Senate of the State of Illinois were saddened to learn of the death of Gale Annette Coates on December 16, 2003; and

WHEREAS, Gale Annette Coates was born in East St. Louis on July 17, 1961 to Cary and Retha Washington; she was the third child of five children; one of whom preceded her in death; and

WHEREAS, She was a product of the East Saint Louis school system, graduating from Lincoln Senior High School in 1979; she began full-time employment with Dr. Francis Kayria immediately after high school and continued an Associated Applied Science Degree in Information Technology; she used her degree to gain employment with Barnes Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, Missouri in Patient Accounts; she was supervisor of her division; she continued her education at Harris Stowe State College; she aspired to become a teacher; and

WHEREAS, She was united in Holy Matrimony to Charles Kevin Coates; to this union one child was born, Jazmin Greunetta Coates and a loving stepson, Jason C. Coates; and

WHEREAS, Mrs. Coates accepted Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior and was baptized at the Mt. Olive Missionary Baptist Church under the pastorship of the Reverend A.G. Williams; in later years, she was united with the Mt. Pisgah Missionary Baptist Church under the pastorship of the late Reverend Dr. R.B. Lyles; she served in many capacities at Mt. Pisgah Missionary Baptist Church; she was head of the New Member's Committee, member of the Month Committee, and Announcement Clerk; she was a faithful member of the Sunday School and Prayer Meetings; and

WHEREAS, The passing of Gale Annette Coates will be deeply felt by many, especially her husband, Charles Kevin Coates, who was her soul mate and friend; her daughter, Jazmin Greunetta Coates; her son, Jason C. Coates; her mother, Retha V. Wilson (Sherrod); her grandmother, Dorothy L. Lockett; her sister, Veronica Sherrod; her brothers, Jerome H. (Beverly) Washington and Michael Partee; her mother-in-law, Greunetta Coates; her brothers-in-law, Kenneth (Helen) Coates and Dr. Rodney Coates; her aunts, Leitha Floyd and Edith (Robert) Blackburn; her uncles, Robert (Marcella) Sherrod, Jr., John (Betty) Coates, and James (Zennie) Coates; her beloved sister-cousin-friend, Renee Lanier; and many nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives, and friends; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the death of Gale Annette Coates along with all who knew and loved her and extend our sincere condolences to her family and friends; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Gale Annette Coates as an expression of our deepest sympathy.