HR0341LRB103 32650 LAW 62348 r

1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of
3Representatives wish to congratulate MajorBelle (Brown) James
4on the occasion of her 100th birthday on May 17, 2023; and
 
5    WHEREAS, MajorBelle James was born to Dock and Rosa Brown
6in Belzoni, Mississippi on May 17, 1923; she was the only
7daughter of five siblings, including Hosea, William, Earl, and
8Alfred; and
 
9    WHEREAS, MajorBelle James attended Forestville and Willard
10grammar schools, and she graduated 8th grade from Willard; she
11graduated from DuSable High School in 1941; and
 
12    WHEREAS, MajorBelle James married John Velry James on May
133, 1943; they had one child, Rochelle James, who was born on
14October 31, 1943; they enjoyed 49 years of marriage until his
15passing on August 30, 1992; and
 
16    WHEREAS, For 41 years, MajorBelle James was employed at
17Curtis Candy, known today as Nabisco, from 1947 until she
18retired in 1988; and
 
19    WHEREAS, MajorBelle James attended and was baptized at
20both Ebenezer Missionary Baptist Church and Corpus Christi

 

 

HR0341- 2 -LRB103 32650 LAW 62348 r

1Catholic Church, becoming a member of Corpus Christi Catholic
2Church at 15 years old; she formerly attended St. Ambrose
3Catholic Church and now attends St. Josephine Bakhita Parish;
4she was a member of The Knights of Peter Claver Ladies
5Auxiliary; and
 
6    WHEREAS, MajorBelle James has enjoyed cooking, especially
7baking cakes, and dancing; her hobbies have included
8videography, photography, and astrology; and
 
9    WHEREAS, MajorBelle James is the aunt of well-known singer
10Donny Hathaway, the son of her oldest brother, Hosea; and
 
11    WHEREAS, MajorBelle James is the grandmother of four, with
12one preceding her in death; the great-grandmother of 10, with
13one preceding her in death; the great-great-grandmother of 10;
14and the great-great-great grandmother of one; therefore, be it
 
15    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE
16HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
17we congratulate MajorBelle (Brown) James on celebrating her
18100th birthday; and be it further
 
19    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
20presented to MajorBelle James as an expression of our esteem
21and respect.