Full Text of SR0774 100th General Assembly
SR0774 100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY |
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| 1 | | SENATE RESOLUTION
| 2 | | WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to | 3 | | learn of the death of Barbara Theresa "BeBe" Boutte, who passed | 4 | | away on July 17, 2017; and
| 5 | | WHEREAS, Barbara Boutte was born in Alexandria, Louisiana | 6 | | to Murrell and Blanche Evangeline Toussaint Gonzaque on August | 7 | | 5, 1930; she attended elementary school in New Orleans and | 8 | | Alexandria and high school in Opelousas; she earned a degree in | 9 | | music education from Xavier University (XULA), where she sang | 10 | | in operas and performed nationally in the choir; she married | 11 | | Alvin Boutte during her senior year; and
| 12 | | WHEREAS, Barbara Boutte began teaching at St. James | 13 | | Catholic High School in Alexandria when her husband was away at | 14 | | Officers Training School with the United States Army; they | 15 | | spent time stationed in California and Kansas; and | 16 | | WHEREAS, After arriving in Chicago, Barbara Boutte and her | 17 | | husband launched their successful drug store chain, | 18 | | Independent Drug Stores, Inc.; she was a strong supporter of | 19 | | her husband as he moved from the drug store business and became | 20 | | president and CEO of Independence Bank; and | 21 | | WHEREAS, Barbara Boutte and her husband were ardent |
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| 1 | | supporters of Chicago community and cultural organizations and | 2 | | especially the civil rights movement; they often hosted | 3 | | meetings at their home with civil rights and civic leaders; one | 4 | | of her final public outings was the dedication of the Rev. Dr. | 5 | | Martin Luther King Jr. Living Memorial in Marquette Park; and | 6 | | WHEREAS, Barbara Boutte was a member of St. Dorothy Parish | 7 | | and then St. Clotilde Parish; she served on the
school board, | 8 | | the leadership committee, the Women's Club, and chaired several | 9 | | church
fundraisers; she sang in the choir, playing both the | 10 | | organ and piano for Mass, and
performed at other church | 11 | | functions; for years, she served on the National Committee
for | 12 | | the Sainthood of now St. Katherine Drexel, the matriarch of | 13 | | Xavier University of
Louisiana; and | 14 | | WHEREAS, Barbara Boutte held leadership
roles in the | 15 | | Pharmacist's Women's Auxiliary, Chicago
State University | 16 | | TAGgers, the March of Dimes, Good Samaritans,
the Provident | 17 | | Women's Auxiliary of Provident Hospital of Cook County, the | 18 | | Kennedy-King
Choir, the Proscenium Players, the United Negro | 19 | | College Fund's Women's Division,
the American Association of | 20 | | University Women, the Lyric
Opera-Bravo Chapter, the XULA | 21 | | Alumni Association, the Holy Ghost Catholic School Alumni
| 22 | | Association, and the Chicago Federation of Musicians; she was | 23 | | instrumental in
raising funds to build the new Provident | 24 | | Hospital, the
53rd Street YMCA, and she worked tirelessly |
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| 1 | | year-round to ensure the success of the
United Negro College | 2 | | Fund's Annual Ebony Fashion Show; and
| 3 | | WHEREAS, Barbara Boutte was affectionately known as | 4 | | "Mother Too" and "Grand MaMa" to many; she was a phenomenal | 5 | | bridge player and belonged to several clubs for almost 60
| 6 | | years: Queen of Diamonds, Tally-Up, Chi Burbs, Grand Slam | 7 | | Ma'ams, the 87th Street Bridge
Club, and several others; she | 8 | | enjoyed hosting an annual New Year's
soiree, a Halloween gala, | 9 | | bridge parties, and political
fundraisers; and | 10 | | WHEREAS, Barbara Boutte was known for
her style, beauty, | 11 | | talent, and caring heart; she was also known for her red beans | 12 | | and rice, smothered okra, jambalaya, and
gumbo; her recipes | 13 | | were so acclaimed that they were
published in The Chicago | 14 | | Defender and praised by all who were
lucky enough to partake, | 15 | | including Rev. Dr. Martin
Luther King Jr., the members of the | 16 | | Southern Christian Leadership Conference, Operation
| 17 | | Breadbasket, Operation PUSH, the Young Democrats,
and many | 18 | | others; and
| 19 | | WHEREAS, Barbara Boutte is survived by her children, Janice | 20 | | Boutte, Jeanette
(Floyd) Simpson, Gregory Boutte, and Alvin | 21 | | Jr.; her grandchildren,
Dennis, Gregory (Rachel), Phillip | 22 | | (Shay), Floyd III, Patrice,
Crystal, and Sherida; her | 23 | | great-grandchildren, Darius, Lauren,
Dennis, Denise, and |
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| 1 | | Phillip III; her sister-in-law, Irma (Murrell Louis)
Hayes | 2 | | Gonzaque; numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and
friends; and | 3 | | her special and devoted friends known as "BeBe's Kids"; | 4 | | therefore, be it
| 5 | | RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDREDTH GENERAL | 6 | | ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of | 7 | | Barbara Theresa "BeBe" Boutte, and extend our sincere | 8 | | condolences to her family, friends, and all who knew and loved | 9 | | her; and be it further
| 10 | | RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be | 11 | | presented to the family of Barbara Boutte as an expression of | 12 | | our deepest sympathy.
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