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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2     WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to
3 learn of the death of Willie J. Welch, who passed away on May
4 31, 2009; and
 
5     WHEREAS, Willie Welch was born on September 1, 1918 in
6 Portland, Arkansas; his parents were James and Lula Welch; he
7 married Minnie Gardner on August 13, 1968; and
 
8     WHEREAS, Willie Welch was an accomplished jazz musician who
9 attended the Chicago Conservatory of Music; he formed his first
10 band while serving as a soldier in the United States Army;
11 after his honorable discharge in 1944 and a few stints in other
12 groups, he formed the very popular Willie Welch Band, which had
13 scheduled performances up until his passing; and
 
14     WHEREAS, Willie Welch confessed his hope in Christ at an
15 early age and was an active member of the Merrill Avenue
16 Baptist Church; he loved his church community and attended
17 Sunday school and Bible classes faithfully; and
 
18     WHEREAS, Willie Welch was employed at Cook County Hospital
19 for 17 years as a supervisor and union steward, serving until
20 his retirement in 1983; and
 

 

 

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1     WHEREAS, Willie Welch was preceded in death by his parents;
2 his siblings, Mamie Mathis, John Holmes, Elizabeth Richardson,
3 Eldora Dotson, O.C. Perkins, Thelma Bennett, and Ora Evans; and
4 his step-son, Robert Gardner; and
 
5     WHEREAS, Willie Welch is survived by his loving wife,
6 Minnie; his children, Debra, Henrietta, Ruth, Ervin, and
7 Barbara; his grandchildren, Raymond, Sharon, Shamari, Edward,
8 Donald, Twanna, Tanya, Tasha, Robert, Tieria, Ervin Jr.,
9 Jabari, Dejon, Lashay, Fred, and Kaylynn; his nieces and
10 nephews, Eugene, Lula, Estella, Elizabeth, Joan, Charles,
11 Herman, Patricia, Jeanette, Joyce, Anita, Vera, Larry, Gail,
12 Stephanie, Dominick, Wendy, and Michael; his 53 great-nieces
13 and great-nephews; and his many other relatives and friends;
14 and
 
15     WHEREAS, Willie Welch will be remembered by all who knew
16 and loved him as a colorful character that adored his family
17 and was always ready with a joke; therefore, be it
 
18     RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL
19 ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn, along with
20 his family and friends, the passing of Willie J. Welch; and be
21 it further
 
22     RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be

 

 

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1 presented to the family of Willie Welch as an expression of our
2 sympathy.