SR0150 95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0150 LRB095 11949 KXB 35301 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Claudia Mary Nash-Thomas of East St. Louis, who passed away on March 16, 2007; and

WHEREAS, Claudia Nash-Thomas was born in East St. Louis on July 5, 1918; she attended school in School District 189 and graduated from Lincoln School; she attended Southern Illinois University after graduation; she taught in Sparta at Vernon Grade School for three years, and then came to School District 189, where she taught for three years; and

WHEREAS, Her sister, Frances, interested her in becoming a mortician, and she enrolled in St. Louis College of Mortuary Science; following graduation she was licensed in Illinois and Missouri and worked with her father and sister in the business; while working at the funeral home, she met Walter Lee Thomas and they married on March 27, 1947; and

WHEREAS, She was a life member of St. Luke A.M.E. Church; she served on the Board of Directors for the Comprehensive Mental Health Center of St. Clair County from 1976 to 1991, as a charter member of the East St. Louis Volunteers for Police Safety, as a board member for the Children's Center, and she was very active with the NAACP, becoming a Life Time Member and serving as President in the 1940s; she was the first Black President of the YWCA of St. Clair County, and served in many other clubs and organizations as well; and

WHEREAS, Claudia Nash-Thomas received the Profile of Providence Award for Metro East Women of Achievement in 1980; she received a citation from the 82nd General Assembly of the State of Illinois for Community Service; and many other honors and awards; and

WHEREAS, Claudia Nash-Thomas was preceded in death by her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Charles T. (Emma C. Edwards) Nash; her sister, M. Frances Nash Terrell; and her brother-in-law, Mr. Edward Terrell; and

WHEREAS, Mrs. Claudia Nash-Thomas leaves to cherish her memory her loving and devoted daughter, Claudia E. Thomas- Nash; her loving sister, Fredericka J. Nash; her extended family, Mrs. Priscilla Holliway, Mrs. Princetta Farries, and Mrs. Michelle Buchannan; her very close friends, Mrs. Wastic "Brownie" Brown, Mrs. Ossie Kersee, and Dr. Helen Hudlin; her church family, club members, and her friends; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn, along with her family and friends, the passing of Claudia Mary Nash-Thomas; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Claudia Mary Nash-Thomas as a symbol of our sympathy.