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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened
3to learn of the death of Deborah Kay "Debbie" Maxwell of
4Springfield, who passed away on October 27, 2021; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Debbie Maxwell was born to Edna and Jimmie
6Reynolds in Springfield on June 28, 1952; she graduated from
7Springfield High School in 1970; she married Phil Maxwell on
8December 3, 1977, becoming the stepmother to Norman and Bruce;
9her family expanded when they had their daughters, Gretchen
10and Beth; she earned her Bachelor of Science in Education from
11MacMurray College in Jacksonville in 1990; over the years, her
12family hosted 20 exchange students from various countries, and
13they welcomed a Russian exchange student Dasha (Daria) in
141994, who became a part of their family; and
 
15    WHEREAS, Although she had many jobs, Debbie Maxwell's true
16calling was loving and caring for children; she taught
17elementary school at Harvard Park and Owen Marsh for 10 years;
18she served as a mother figure to many, including friends,
19neighbors, students, church family, and anyone in need of
20nurturing; and
 
21    WHEREAS, Debbie Maxwell attended Southside Christian
22Church in her earlier years; as an adult, she was an active

 

 

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1member of Elliott Avenue Baptist Church and later Central
2Baptist Church in Springfield; she taught Sunday school,
3volunteered for a crisis pregnancy center, and participated in
4Christian Bible Fellowship and women's circle; she also cooked
5and served Wednesday night church dinners and hosted a yearly
6dinner and reception for the Millikin University Choir; and
 
7    WHEREAS, Debbie Maxwell loved music and sang in many
8groups through the years, including the women's barbershop
9chorus Harmony First, church choirs, the Maxwell family
10quartet, and the Illinois Symphony Chorus; she participated in
11the Fellowship of American Baptist Musicians Conference at
12Green Lake, Wisconsin for 26 years; she and her husband held
13season tickets for the Illinois Symphony Orchestra; she
14enjoyed art shows, museums, and theatrical performances,
15embracing all the arts and passing her love of art and culture
16to her children; and
 
17    WHEREAS, Debbie Maxwell was an avid gardener and loved her
18flowers, birds, gazing balls, fairy lights, whirligigs,
19pinwheels, and wind chimes; she enjoyed traveling and
20exploring the U.S. and abroad; she found joy in collecting
21beautiful things and selecting thoughtful gifts for others;
22her spiritual gift was hospitality, and her door was always
23open to visits from family, friends, and neighbors; she
24treasured baking with her children and grandchildren, and she

 

 

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1made cookie trays and delivered them to the post office
2workers at Christmas; she was a lifetime lover of animals and
3had many pets; her favorite canine companion was her
4Goldendoodle, Katie, who brought true joy to the last two
5years of her life; and
 
6    WHEREAS, Debbie Maxwell was a beloved wife, mother,
7grandmother, and friend to many; she was known for her way of
8making each person she knew and met feel special, seen, and
9loved; she will be remembered for her warm and fun presence
10lighting up the room through her smile, fashion, humor, and
11genuine joy in interacting with people; and
 
12    WHEREAS, At the time of her passing, Debbie Maxwell was
13survived by her husband, Phil; her daughters, Gretchen
14Phillips, Beth Maxwell, and Dasha (Daria) LaFave; her
15stepsons, Norman Maxwell and Bruce Maxwell; her mother, Edna
16Reynolds; her siblings, Coni Rogers and Lenny Reynolds; her
17best friend of over 40 years, Janette Bolin; her grandchildren
18Candice Maxwell, Veronica Rodriguez, Emily Maxwell, El
19Maxwell, Amelia Phillips, Anneliese Phillips, Megan Heinemann,
20and Henry LaFave; her nephews, Evan Stevens and Colin Rogers;
21her godchildren, Dawnita and Christlynn Jackson; and her many
22aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and cousins; therefore, be it
 
23    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED SECOND GENERAL

 

 

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1ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of
2Deborah Kay "Debbie" Maxwell and extend our sincere
3condolences to her family, friends, and all who knew and loved
4her; and be it further
 
5    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
6presented to the family of Debbie Maxwell as an expression of
7our deepest sympathy.