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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to
3learn of the death of Gwendolyn Hayes, who passed away on June
423, 2012; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Gwendolyn Hayes was born on June 30, 1936, in
6Summerlee, West Virginia; her parents were Reverend Walter N.
7Harris and Emma V. (Loving) Harris; she married Henry E. Hayes
8in June of 1962; and
 
9    WHEREAS, Gwendolyn Hayes attended the First Baptist Church
10of Summerlee, where she accepted Christ at an early age; and
 
11    WHEREAS, Gwendolyn Hayes graduated with honors in 1954 from
12DuBois High School in Mount Hope, West Virginia; after trying
13to attend college in West Virginia, she decided to relocate to
14Chicago, where she joined her first cousin, Margaret; after
15arriving in Chicago, she began to take night courses at DePaul
16University while working by day; she eventually found work as
17the first black keypunch machine operator for Reese Finer
18Foods; and
 
19    WHEREAS, After completing her accounting studies at Wright
20Junior College and Northwestern University, Gwendolyn Hayes
21and her husband decided to venture into business for

 

 

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1themselves; during this time, she opened an accounting office
2on Chicago's West Side and began to invest in real estate;
3throughout the years, she owned many businesses, including G &
4H Hayes Management Service, the Sting-Rey, and the Chateau; she
5was also the first female CEO of the WVON radio station; and
 
6    WHEREAS, After achieving her goals in life, Gwendolyn Hayes
7decided to focus on her work for the Lord and returned home to
8West Virginia, where she devoted herself to many activities
9within her church; she held various titles at the church,
10including superintendent of the Sunday School, Financial
11Secretary and Board Trustee, Banquet Committee Chairman,
12Corresponding Secretary, N.R.V.M. Missionary Clerk, and
13N.R.V.M. Baptist Association Clerk; she was also the Treasurer
14at the West Virginia Baptist Credit Union Association at the
15Hilltop Baptist Center; and
 
16    WHEREAS, Gwendolyn Hayes was recognized by various
17community organizations, newspapers, city officials, and
18politicians, including former Mayor of Chicago, Harold
19Washington; she was also the recipient of numerous awards,
20including the Outstanding and Dedicated Community Service
21Award, the Neighborhood Business Person of the Year, and the
22Revlon and Black Woman Hall of Fame Foundation 1988 Bethune
23Tubman Truth Award, among many others; and
 

 

 

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1    WHEREAS, Gwendolyn Hayes was preceded in death by her
2brother, Walter J. Harris (Babe); and
 
3    WHEREAS, Gwendolyn Hayes is survived by her husband, Henry;
4her two children, Anita (Anthony) and Brian (Yolanda Renee),
5her grandchildren, Qiana (Robert Eric), Donte (Willie), Toni,
6LeNa, Avyance, Brian Jr., and Jayla; her great-grandchildren,
7Elijah Tyrique, Eric Andrew, TaZaria Aquice, and Zion Amir; her
8play mother, Leana Phillips; and her many nieces and nephews,
9other family members, and friends; therefore, be it
 
10    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL
11ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn, along with
12her family and friends, the passing of Gwendolyn Hayes; and be
13it further
 
14    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
15presented to the family of Gwendolyn Hayes as an expression of
16our sympathy.