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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened
3to learn of the death of Ethel Lee Chestnut-Sharkey, who
4passed away on August 30, 2021; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Ethel Chestnut-Sharkey was born to Willie and
6Cora Hunter-Chestnut in Drew, Mississippi on October 20, 1933;
7she was educated in Sunflower County, Mississippi; she married
8Howard Sharkey Sr. in 1950, and they had 11 children; and
 
9    WHEREAS, Ethel Chestnut-Sharkey held a variety of jobs to
10provide for her family; she worked as a cafeteria clerk for the
11Chicago Public Schools; she retired as the salad chef from The
12Exchange Bank; after retirement, she worked part time with
13Helping Home; and
 
14    WHEREAS, Ethel Chestnut-Sharkey committed to her faith at
15an early age at the Second Baptist Church in Blue Lake,
16Mississippi, and she was baptized in the river; she joined the
17Fellowship M.B. Church on November 5, 1958, where she belonged
18to the Inspirational Choir and then The Senior Choir; she was
19presented with the Anchor Award for her over 60-year
20membership; and
 
21    WHEREAS, Ethel Chestnut-Sharkey was known for wearing many

 

 

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1hats over the course of her life, and she was called by many
2endearing names, including Madear, Momma, Granny, Big Granny,
3Hilda, Beulah, Sister, and friend; and
 
4    WHEREAS, Ethel Chestnut-Sharkey was preceded in death by
5her parents; her siblings, Katherine Pittman, James Chester
6Woods, Virgie Jones, Bessie Ray, Maggie Mae Greene, Cora
7Palmer, and Charles Chestnut; her husband, Howard Sharkey Sr.;
8and her child, Jessie Lee; and
 
9    WHEREAS, Ethel Chestnut-Sharkey is survived by her sons,
10Howard Sharkey Jr. (Eurnice), Rev. James W. Sharkey (the late
11Deborah), Willie Earl Sharkey, Edward Earl Sharkey (Lorraine),
12Barry Allen Sharkey (Gwen), Percy T. Sharkey (Dorothy), Larry
13D. Chestnut, Percy M. Sharkey (Sheriot), and Rev. Neko Sharkey
14(Catherice); her daughters, Jessie Mae Sharkey, Margaret
15Banks, Vanessa Sharkey, Rochelle Sharkey, Cynthia Richardson,
16Carmenseda J. Sharkey, Navita (Cetris) Ivy, and Carlotta Hoy;
17her 53 grandchildren; her 37 great-grandchildren; her
18great-great-grandchild; her brother, Luther Chestnut (Flora);
19Ann Chestnut; Sue McElroy; Dorothy Holloway; Nancy Brown; her
20brothers in-law, James Sharkey, Alfred Sharkey (Dorothy), and
21Michael Johnson; a host of nieces, nephews, and cousins; her
22special friends, Loudella Evans-Reid, Florida Foulks, Wanda,
23Regina Frazier, Martha Young, Helena Daniels, Chante, Davita
24Trum, and Renee Bradford; and her Fellowship Church family of

 

 

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162 years; therefore, be it
 
2    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED SECOND GENERAL
3ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of
4Ethel Lee Chestnut-Sharkey and extend our sincere condolences
5to her family, friends, and all who knew and loved her; and be
6it further
 
7    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
8presented to the family of Ethel Chestnut-Sharkey as an
9expression of our deepest sympathy.