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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened
3to learn of the death of Rev. Thomas G. Henry Sr., who passed
4away on March 9, 2021; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Rev. Thomas Henry Sr. was born in West Point,
6Mississippi to Daniel W. and Sally L. Henry on September 11,
71936; he attended West Point schools; after relocating to
8Chicago, he attended Crane High School, where he played
9baseball and football; he married Lucille Archibald, and they
10had five children; he graduated from Wells Evening School; he
11earned his Associate in Social Science from Olive Harvey
12College; he attended McKinley Theological Seminary, Bishop
13College Institute, and Roosevelt University; and
 
14    WHEREAS, Rev. Thomas Henry Sr. committed to his faith
15around the age of 14; he was called to the ministry in 1959; he
16preached his trial sermon at Friendship Baptist Church under
17the tutelage of the late Pastor Sheldon Hall; he was appointed
18junior church pastor of the Mozart/First Baptist
19Congregational Church in 1967, where he served and ministered
20to children for several years; he later became the assistant
21pastor under the late Rev. Dr. Arthur Griffin; he became the
22founding pastor of Austin Baptist United Church of Christ in
231973, where he served as a dedicated pastor for 47 years until

 

 

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1the time of his passing; he was a great leader to his flock,
2and he mentored and helped many people in the community; he had
3a vast knowledge of scripture and was known as a bible teaching
4preacher; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Rev. Thomas Henry Sr. was a firm believer in
6higher learning; during his 50 years of service, he started
7many programs to enhance the lives of young people in the
8Austin community; he founded the Austin Christian School and
9served as executive director of the Austin Baptist UCC Day
10Care & Head Start Program; he provided summer jobs, day camp,
11and food pantries; he also served as a truant officer for
12Chicago Public Schools, as director of the youth program for
13the Chicago Archdiocese, and as a prison chaplain for the Cook
14County Sheriff's Department; and
 
15    WHEREAS, Rev. Thomas Henry Sr. was known for his sense of
16humor and his smile that always started in his eyes; he had a
17beautiful tenor voice, loved music and singing, and had been a
18member of the Thompson Community Singers; he was an avid
19reader; he enjoyed watching the news, traveling, and sports,
20especially baseball; he will be remembered as a kind, generous
21man who dedicated his life to serving others; and
 
22    WHEREAS, Rev. Thomas Henry Sr. was preceded in death by
23his parents; his sisters, Willie McLaurin and Rosa Lavine; and

 

 

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1his brothers, Charles Henry, Booker T. Henry, and John Henry;
2and
 
3    WHEREAS, Rev. Thomas Henry Sr. is survived by his brother,
4Daniel Henry (Lois); his sisters, Mary Sykes and Madelyn
5Williams; his sister-in-law, Bobbi Henry; his children, Thomas
6G. Henry Jr., Patrice McClellan, LaShaun Crump (Todd), Michael
7Henry (Veranda), Bridget Henry, and Jelisa Matthews; his
8grandchildren, Demetrius Haywood, Byron Turner (Aiesha), Omari
9McClellan (Charlotte), Shani Douglas (Danyale), Zachary Henry,
10Blake Henry (Celeste), Zoie Henry, Drew Henry, and Jaliah
11Matthews; 14 great-grandchildren; other children he considered
12and raised as his own; his best friend, Ernesto Scott and his
13extended family; the members of Austin Baptist United Church
14of Christ; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and
15friends; therefore, be it
 
16    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED SECOND GENERAL
17ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of
18Rev. Thomas G. Henry Sr. and extend our sincere condolences to
19his family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it
20further
 
21    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
22presented to the family of Rev. Thomas Henry Sr. as an
23expression of our deepest sympathy.