Full Text of SR0462 93rd General Assembly
SR0462 93RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
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| SENATE RESOLUTION
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| WHEREAS, The members of the Senate of the State of Illinois | 3 |
| learned with regret of the death of Reverend James Solomon Benn | 4 |
| III of Springfield on Friday, March 12, 2004; and
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| WHEREAS, James Solomon Benn III was born January 20, 1921 | 6 |
| in Greenville, South Carolina to Reverend James Solomon Jr. and | 7 |
| Lottie Mae Carter Benn; he married Flora Annetta Baber in 1950; | 8 |
| and
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| WHEREAS, Reverend Benn earned a bachelor's degree from | 10 |
| Wilberforce (Ohio) University, a master's degree from Columbia | 11 |
| University, and a theology degree from Garrett Evangelical | 12 |
| Seminary at Northwestern University; he earned a doctorate of | 13 |
| divinity in 1955 and a doctorate of humanities in 1985, both | 14 |
| from Monrovia College in West Africa; he also earned a | 15 |
| doctorate of divinity from B.F. Lee Seminary at Edward Waters | 16 |
| College; and
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| WHEREAS, Reverend Benn valiantly served his country in the | 18 |
| U.S. Army during World War II and the Korean War; he served in | 19 |
| Europe and Asia and was commissioned a lieutenant in 1948; he | 20 |
| received several awards, including the Good Conduct Medal; he | 21 |
| also served in the ROTC; and
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| WHEREAS, Reverend Benn was a pastor at several churches, | 23 |
| including St. Paul African Methodist Episcopal Church in 1981 | 24 |
| and Ward Chapel AME Church in Peoria from 1955 to 1958, where | 25 |
| he also was a builder; and
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| WHEREAS, The work of Reverend Benn was published several | 27 |
| times; he received the Distinguished Personalities of the West | 28 |
| and Midwest award in 1972 and the NAACP Distinguished Religious | 29 |
| Award for Community Service in 1987; he was honored by the | 30 |
| Common Council Resolution; and
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LRB093 21555 HSS 48763 r |
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| WHEREAS, Reverend Benn was active in the community and had | 2 |
| served in the capacity of an officer for several organizations, | 3 |
| including the Sangamon County Community Service Block Grants, | 4 |
| where he was vice-president; the Illinois AME Conference, where | 5 |
| he was director of continuing education; the Illinois Annual | 6 |
| Conference, where he was chairman, board of admissions; the | 7 |
| Human Services Consortium, Fourth Episcopal District, where he | 8 |
| was executive secretary; and the State of Michigan, Handicapper | 9 |
| Concerns, where he was commisioner in 1979; he was a charter | 10 |
| member and co-organizer of MacDougal/Hunt Citizens District | 11 |
| Council in Detroit, Michigan in 1977; and
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| WHEREAS, The passing of Reverend James Solomon Benn III has | 13 |
| been deeply felt by many, especially his wife, Flora Annetta; | 14 |
| his sons, George Henry Benn and James Solomon Benn IV; his | 15 |
| daughter, Victoria D. Benn Rochelle; his three grandchildren; | 16 |
| and his many nieces, nephews, and cousins; therefore, be it
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| RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-THIRD GENERAL | 18 |
| ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the death of | 19 |
| Reverend James Solomon Benn III, and we extend our deepest | 20 |
| sympathy to his family, friends, and all who knew and loved | 21 |
| him; and be it further
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| RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be | 23 |
| presented to the family of Reverend Benn as an expression of | 24 |
| our sincere condolences.
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