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SENATE RESOLUTION


 
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    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to  
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learn of the death of
John "J.D." Edwards, who passed away on 
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November 8, 2007; and

 
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    WHEREAS, John Edwards was born on January 11, 1930 in 
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Sunflower County, Mississippi; his parents were Clara and 
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Shalmus Edwards Sr.; he married his high school sweetheart, 
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Erma Lee Black, in 1950; and

 
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    WHEREAS, John Edwards developed a love of music as a child 
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in the 1940's when he learned to play the saxophone; his love 
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of music led him to a music scholarship to Jackson State 
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College in Jackson, Mississippi; and

 
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    WHEREAS, John Edwards moved with his wife to Chicago in 
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1952; shortly after his move to Chicago, he gained employment 
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with the Belt Railroad Company, where he served as a switchman 
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for 12 years; and

 
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    WHEREAS, After his tenure with the Belt Railroad Company, 
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John Edwards began a new career as an agent, then as a manager, 
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with the National Life Insurance Company; he was honored as a 
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"Millionaire Salesman" for 10 consecutive years during his 
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career there; and

 
 


 






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    WHEREAS, In 1974, John Edwards retired from the National 
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Life Insurance Company and opened a retail clothing business, 
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which still provides a valuable service to the Roseland 
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community after 33 successful years; and
 
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    WHEREAS, John Edwards was actively involved in many 
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community organizations; he served as Chairman of the Board of 
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Directors for the Chicago South Chambers of Commerce; he was 
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the founder and president of the Roseland Business Development 
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Council, serving from 1979 until his death; he was the 
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treasurer of the Board of Trustees for Roseland Community 
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Hospital from 1988 until 1999; he also served as vice-president 
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of the Neighborhood Housing Service of Chicago in Roseland 
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until his death, among many other organizations he served 
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during his lifetime; and
 
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    WHEREAS, John Edwards was the recipient of many awards in 
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recognition of his many contributions to the community; he was 
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the recipient of the Top Hat Club Award from 1973 to 1983, the 
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Hometown Hero Award in 2003, and the 2006 Chicago Senior 
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Citizen Hall of Fame Award; and
 
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    WHEREAS, John Edwards was preceded in death by his parents, 
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Clara and Shalmus Edwards Sr., and his wife, Erma Lee Black; 
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and
 
 


 






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    WHEREAS, John Edwards is survived by his children, 
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Gwendolyn Edwards-Osborne, Clara Lavizzo, John Edwards Jr., 
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and LeDall Edwards; his grandchildren, Janeen Osborne, Timiko 
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Lavizzo, Andrea Osborne, John Edwards III, and Leda Edwards; 
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his 8 great-grandchildren; and his many nieces, nephews, 
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relatives, and friends; therefore, be it

 
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    RESOLVED, BY THE  SENATE OF THE NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL 
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ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn, along with 
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his family and friends, the passing of John Edwards; and be it 
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further

 
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    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
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presented to the family of John Edwards as an expression of our 
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sympathy.