HR1351 97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR1351 LRB097 23722 MST 72807 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are saddened to learn of the death of Reverend Austin W. Smith, Jr. of Chicago, who passed away on December 12, 2012; and

WHEREAS, Reverend Smith was born in Pollocksville, North Carolina, on September 17th, 61 years ago, to Austin and Minnie Hicks Smith; he was the 7th of 9 children, affectionately known as "Pete"; he attended Jones Central High School, Washington Bible College, and Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, where he earned a Master's of Religion in Urban Ministry and a Master's of Christian Studies; he married Shirley Small on December 13, 1969; and

WHEREAS, Reverend Smith has served as senior pastor of Compassion Baptist Church in Chicago for the past 20 years; and

WHEREAS, Prior to becoming pastor of Compassion Baptist Church, Reverend Smith served as director of the Agape Community Center, a ministry of Here's Life Inner City; he most recently served on the board of Converge Mid America; and

WHEREAS, Before beginning full-time work in the ministry, Reverend Smith worked for the Kiplinger Washington Editors in Washington, D.C. as a computer programmer-analyst; and

WHEREAS, Reverend Smith was preceded in death by his parents, Austin and Minnie Smith; his son, Sean; and his brother, Charles; and

WHEREAS, Reverend Smith is survived by his wife of 42 years, Shirley; his children, Sauda, (Duane) Porter, Faith, Stephen, and James; his grandchildren, Jasmine, Joy, Hope, and Jovanni Austin; his siblings, Harriett (Jesse), Robert (Sadie) Barbara (Robert), Karen, Jacquelyn (Ronald), Delphine (Sherman), and Graylin (Barbara), his cousins, nieces, nephews, grandnieces, and grandnephews; the congregation of Compassion Baptist Church; and a host of brothers and sisters in Christ and friends; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Reverend Austin W. Smith, Jr., and we extend our sincere condolences to his family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Reverend Austin Smith, Jr. as an expression of our deepest sympathy.