HR0102LRB101 10888 MST 56033 r

1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of
3Representatives are saddened to learn of the death of Willeta
4Mae Hassell Donaldson of Urbana, who passed away on February 2,
52019; and
 
6    WHEREAS, Willeta Donaldson was born in Urbana to Joseph Leo
7and Hattie Virginia (Thompson) Hassell on October 6, 1940; she
8graduated from Champaign High School (Central High School) on
9June 5, 1958 and married Carlos Franklin Donaldson Sr. on
10February 2, 1960; and
 
11    WHEREAS, Willeta Donaldson began employment at the
12University of Illinois in the Office of Admissions and Records,
13where she was employee of the year in 1986, 1987, and 1988; she
14retired as Assistant to the Director of Admissions in 1995; she
15went back to work part time in 1997 for the Director of
16Development at the University of Illinois in the School of
17Social Work and retired in 2004; and
 
18    WHEREAS, Willeta Donaldson was instrumental in the
19integration of Urbana schools, the first in the State of
20Illinois; she chaired the City of Urbana Human Relations
21Commission for over 15 years and was a member of the U of I
22Black Caucus; she also served on the U of I Chancellor's

 

 

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1Committee on the Status of Women from 1982 to 1985; and
 
2    WHEREAS, Willeta Donaldson grew up at Pilgrim Missionary
3Baptist Church; she returned to the church three years ago
4after serving with her husband for 53 years at Bethel A.M.E.
5Church; and
 
6    WHEREAS, Willeta Donaldson received numerous awards,
7including the 1982 U of I Black Mom of the Year, the 2000
8University of Illinois Liberal Arts and Sciences
9Bridge/Transition Recognition Award, the 2000 National
10Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) of
11Champaign County Award, the 2004 Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Pearls
12of Wisdom Award, the 2005 National Council of Negro Women
13Mother of the Year Award, the 2012 University of Illinois YWCA
14Leadership/Trailblazer Award, the 2017 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther
15King Jr. Outstanding Achievement Award, and the 2017 University
16of Illinois College of Education's Honorary James Scholar
17Award; and
 
18    WHEREAS, Willeta Donaldson was preceded in death by her
19parents; her sister, Joan Hassell Alexander; and her nephews,
20Brian A. and Kerry L. Alexander; and
 
21    WHEREAS, Willeta Donaldson is survived by her husband of 59
22years, Carlos; her children, Carlos Franklin Jr. (Mae Nunnery)

 

 

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1Donaldson, Carletta Jo Donaldson, and Dennis Keith (Denise
2Stanley) Donaldson; her grandchildren, Ryan Carlos and Blake
3Donaldson, Chad (Kathy Boetcher) Pellum, Amber (Justin)
4Duncan, and Kyle Pellum; her great-grandchildren, Delaney
5Duncan and Kylie Pellum; her brothers, Joseph L. and Charles E.
6(Betty J. Lewis) Hassell; and numerous nieces, nephews, and
7cousins; therefore, be it
 
8    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE
9HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
10we mourn the passing of Willeta Mae Hassell Donaldson and
11extend our sincere condolences to her family, friends, and all
12who knew and loved her; and be it further
 
13    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
14presented to the family of Willeta Donaldson as an expression
15of our deepest sympathy.