HR0794LRB101 20948 MST 70957 r


  
1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

  
 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of 
3Representatives are saddened to learn of the death of Willie 
4Mae Hopson of Peoria, who passed away on February 22, 2020; and
  
 
5    WHEREAS, Willie Mae Hopson  was born in Cruger, Mississippi 
6to Willie and Ellen (Randle) Gordon on October 22, 1935; she 
7was educated in the Mississippi and Peoria public school 
8systems; she married Charlie B. Thomas  in 1953; after his 
9passing, she married Waymon H. Harper Sr. on December 7, 1958; 
10after his passing, she married Artis Hopson in 1982; and
  
 
11    WHEREAS, Willie Mae Hopson's early jobs included being a 
12candy striper and working in the preemie center at OSF (St. 
13Francis Hospital); in 1995, she retired from her administrative 
14duties at Caterpillar to care for her mother; and
 
15    WHEREAS, Willie Mae Hopson  was politically active and 
16served  many years as an election judge; twice, she visited the 
17White House, and she attended President Barack Obama's second 
18inauguration; and
 
19    WHEREAS, For 70 years, Willie Mae Hopson  was a dedicated 
20member of New Morning Star Missionary Baptist Church; she 
21served as former Annual Calendar Tea Chair and worked with the 
 
 
HR0794- 2 -LRB101 20948 MST 70957 r

1culinary staff, Deaconess Board, Mother's Council, One Church, 
2One Child Foster Care Program, Church Missions, and Helping 
3Hands Committee; she visited the sick and, through the 
4Mentorship Ministry, shared her guidance; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Willie Mae Hopson  was an avid bowler and finished 
6a stellar bowling career of 46 years; her culinary skill-set 
7was unrivaled; in the neighborhood, she was revered as a 
8village mom; she was the "Queen of Clean" and hosted  annual 
9yard sales and Super Bowl parties; she was a classy lady when 
10it came to travel and was a jet-setter; and
  
 
11    WHEREAS, Willie Mae Hopson  loved to garden and possessed a 
12green thumb; during the spring and summer months, she would be 
13on the fish banks laughing with her sons and buddies; her 
14weekly fish fry always brought family and friends together; she 
15loved watching the Steve Harvey Show, Family Feud, Wheel of 
16Fortune, Rachel Maddow, and Judge Judy; she enjoyed completing 
17crossword puzzles, and her happy place was relaxing on Martha's 
18Vineyard; and
  
 
19    WHEREAS, Willie Mae Hopson  was preceded in death by her 
20first husband, Charlie; her second husband, Waymon; her 
21parents; and her brother, J.P. (Buck) Gordon; and
  
 
22    WHEREAS, Willie Mae Hopson  is survived by her husband of 38 
 
 
HR0794- 3 -LRB101 20948 MST 70957 r

1years, Artis Hopson; her  daughters, Mae Catherine Godhigh, 
2Wanda F. Thomas, Vachon K. (Thaddeus) Harper Young, and Nadine 
3Hopson Redmond; her  sons, Charles D. Thomas, Andre' A. Harper, 
4Waymon H. (Angela) Harper Jr., and Sean (Cyrie) Hopson;  
5numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, other family, and 
6friends; her sister-in-loves, Freida Gordon, Georgia (Dimp) 
7Gordon Little, Geneva Randle King, Helen Scott, Sophia Woods, 
8and Mary Ann King; her special bowling buddy and niece, Imogene 
9(Gordon) Simmons; and her special Godson, Antwine Freeman; 
10therefore, be it
  
 
11    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE 
12HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that 
13we mourn the passing of Willie Mae Hopson and extend our 
14sincere condolences to her family, friends, and all who knew 
15and loved her; and be it further
  
 
16    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
17presented to  the family of  Willie Mae Hopson  as an expression 
18of our deepest sympathy.