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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of
3Representatives are saddened to learn of the death of Joanetta
4Marilyn "Joan" Copeland, who passed away on October 24, 2019;
5and
 
6    WHEREAS, Joan Copeland was born to Irma and Earl Davis on
7November 4, 1950; she attended Greater Exodus Missionary
8Baptist Church; she graduated from Charles Sumner Elementary
9School in 1965 and from John Marshall High School in 1969; she
10married Martin "Marty" Copeland on February 20, 1970; and
 
11    WHEREAS, Joan Copeland had a passion and zeal for learning
12and education, especially in the area of early child
13development; she earned an applied science degree in child
14development from Malcolm X College in 1975, a Bachelor of Arts
15in 1987, and a Masters of Arts from Northeastern Illinois
16University in 1990; she also completed additional graduate
17courses at several other universities, including the
18University of Iowa, Northern Illinois University, National
19Louis University, and Chicago State University; and
 
20    WHEREAS, Joan Copeland was a teacher and administrator at
21Bethel Christian School; at Malcolm X College, she served as
22chairperson of the Child Development Department from 2001 to

 

 

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12007; and
 
2    WHEREAS, Joan Copeland received numerous awards and
3recognitions, including the Golden Apple Teacher Award (1981),
4Distinguished Professor (Malcolm X College 2009), and the Kathy
5Osterman Award (City of Chicago 2010); she was a grant
6proofreader and writer and authored two children's books,
7Homeys with a Future (1980) and Carrie's Journal (1982); in
81982, she was featured on Someone You Should Know with former
9TV anchor Harry Porterfield of WLS News; in 1993, she was a
10featured writer in the News and Views section of Parenting
11Magazine; and
 
12    WHEREAS, Joan Copeland entered the ministry in 2018; she
13served as Director of The Intergenerational Connection
14Ministry; and
 
15    WHEREAS, Joan Copeland was a member of Bethel Lutheran
16Church, where she served as an usher and as a Sunday school
17teacher; when it came to fashion, she was in a class all by
18herself; she always wore outfits coordinated from head to toe,
19and her extensive African wardrobe was inspirational and often
20radiant; and
 
21    WHEREAS, Joan Copeland is survived by her husband, Martin
22"Marty"; her father, Earl Davis; her sons, Earl Lamont (Tanya),

 

 

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1Kevin Jabbar (Phyllis), and Maurice Ali; her siblings, Joyce
2White, Cynthia Osafo, Oless James, Delores James, Marilyn
3Straughter, Donnie James, and Michael James; her aunts, Alice
4Handy, Ethel Mae Cummings, Evelyn Rutledge, and Gloria Watkins;
5her sister-in-law, Paulette Watkins; her brother-in-law,
6Michael Copeland; her grandchildren, Earl Jr., Denzel,
7Diamond, Kevonna Jonae', and Rodger; her great-granddaughter,
8Aubree; her goddaughter, Chawn; numerous nieces, nephews, and
9cousins; her very special and dear friend, Edna Nixon; and
10other relatives, friends, and her Bethel Lutheran Church
11family; therefore, be it
 
12    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE
13HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
14we mourn the passing of Joanetta Marilyn "Joan" Copeland and
15extend our sincere condolences to her family, friends, and all
16who knew and loved her; and be it further
 
17    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
18presented to the family of Joan Copeland as an expression of
19our deepest sympathy.