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HOUSE RESOLUTION


 
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    WHEREAS, James A. Martin, Sr., was born in Yazoo City, 
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Mississippi, on February 9, 1915, to Anderson and Florence 
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Martin, nee Williams; he is the brother of six, five brothers 
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and one sister; and
 
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    WHEREAS, He has been married to Gloria (Orr) Martin for 20 
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years and is the father of 5 adult children; and
 

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    WHEREAS, Mr. Martin was converted in 1931 and baptized by 
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Reverend C.V. Hill in Murphy, Mississippi; he was a member of 
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several Baptist Churches in Mississippi, including Jerusalem 
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Baptist Church in Belzonia, Mississippi; Bethlehem Baptist 
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Church; and King Solomon Baptist Church, where he sang in the 
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choir; and
 

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    WHEREAS, He moved to East Chicago, Indiana, in 1939 and 
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began working in an automobile plant; he became a member of 
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Tabernacle Baptist Church under the leadership of Reverend L. 
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Ruffin and then moved to Chicago in the 1940s; he became a 
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member of Progressive Baptist Church under the leadership of 
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Reverend Brown; and
 

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    WHEREAS, Reverend Martin was ordained as a minister in June 
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of 1950 by Reverend K.D. Clay; he was appointed acting pastor 
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of Beacon Light Missionary Baptist Church of Chicago in March 
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of 1964 and was appointed pastor of Beacon Light Missionary 
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Baptist Church of Chicago in September of the same year; and
 

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    WHEREAS, He was formally educated at the Baptist Institute 
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of Chicago and LaSalle University; he has more than 20 years of 
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continuing education courses in Christian Education through 
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the Progressive Baptist Convention; and
 

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    WHEREAS, Reverend Martin is affiliated with the Old 
 


 






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Veterans' Club and has served in various capacities in the 
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Ministers' Conference of Chicago and Vicinity; he faithfully 
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served as pastor of Beacon Light Church until December 26, 
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2004; and
 

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    WHEREAS, A retirement celebration in his honor is being 
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held on Sunday, February 20, 2005 at Maryland Avenue Baptist 
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Church; therefore, be it
 
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    RESOLVED, BY THE  HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 
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NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that 
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we congratulate Reverend James A. Martin, Sr., on the occasion 
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of his retirement celebration, and we wish him well in his 
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retirement; and be it further

 
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    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
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presented to Reverend Martin as an expression of our esteem.