SR0721 102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0721 LRB102 23768 ECR 32959 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Sister Edna E. McNelty, who passed away on December 22, 2021; and

WHEREAS, Sister McNelty was born to Warnella Sweet (Lee) Crossley and Peter Hubert Crossley in Summit, Mississippi on July 29, 1929; and

WHEREAS, Sister McNelty was the First Lady of the First Baptist Church of Melrose Park for 42 years; she assisted the church's H. McNelty School in various ways during her tenure, including overseeing the construction of the pre-school in 1990 and the addition of a high school, which featured an auditorium, educational labs, an atrium garden, and a state of the art media center; she later joined United Baptist Church in Chicago, where she continued to serve others and worked diligently to ensure that others had food and clothing; in her final years, she connected with Rock of Ages Baptist Church in Maywood; and

WHEREAS, Sister McNelty retired from the Department of Health and the Department of Human Services Social Security Administration after 22 years of service; and

WHEREAS, Sister McNelty was deeply committed to her faith; she will be remembered as an extremely talented individual who supported her family, church, and friends; and

WHEREAS, Sister McNelty was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Pastor H. McNelty; her brothers, Ellzey Crossley, Jewell Crossley, Paul Hubert Crossley, and Mike (Linda) Crossley; her sisters, Lonnie (Pete) Mae Tucker, Roberta (Clinton) Williams, Eva Moore, and Evangelist Lucinda (Vodie) Savage; her sister-in-law, Ann Crossley; and her godson, Wilburn Robinson; and

WHEREAS, Sister McNelty is survived by her son, Michael (Mary); her granddaughter, Tawanda; her sisters, Joyce McSpadden, Clara Crossley, and Theresa Crossley; her sister-in-law, Inez Crossley; her brother, Lonnie Melvin Crossley; her brother-in-law, Willie Frank Moore; her goddaughters, Anita Perkins-Tate and Benita Edwards; her godsons, Cleo McSpadden, Charlie McSpadden, and Shaun Mayberry; and a host of nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, other relatives, and friends; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED SECOND GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Sister Edna E. McNelty and extend our sincere condolences to her family, friends, and all who knew and loved her; and be it further

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