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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of
3Representatives are saddened to learn of the death of Bertha
4Bell Cross, who passed away on January 19, 2023; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Bertha Cross was born in Grenada, Mississippi to
6Irby and Matilda Willis on September 20, 1937; she received
7her formal education through Calhoun County Public Schools;
8she was baptized at Pleasant Grove M.B. Church; she relocated
9to Chicago, where she found a church home in New Joy Divine
10Full Gospel Church; she married Billy Ray Cross on January 12,
111962; later in life, she met James "Jack" Jamison, and the two
12were inseparable; and
 
13    WHEREAS, Bertha Cross was employed in the housekeeping
14department at Michael Reese Hospital before venturing into
15entrepreneurship and launching a private homemaking business;
16and
 
17    WHEREAS, Bertha Cross was affectionately known as "Ba
18Bell", "Bert", "Bertha Bell", "Bye Bye", "Momma B", "Ms.
19Bertha", and "Ms. Cross"; her proudest title was "Grandma" and
20"Nana" to her grandchildren; she encouraged them to pursue
21higher education and instilled in them a number of lifelong
22values, including a hard work ethic; and
 

 

 

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1    WHEREAS, Bertha Cross was truly a class act; she had a
2presence that lit up every room, and she never met a stranger;
3she had a passion for serving others and demonstrated this
4through entertaining, hosting, and showcasing her southern
5hospitality; she especially loved to cook and enjoyed
6preparing delicious food for the soul, a skill she learned
7from her grandmother, "Ma Bertha", after whom she was named;
8she was also a sports fan, with her primary joy being baseball;
9and
 
10    WHEREAS, Bertha Cross was preceded in death by her
11husband, Billy Ray Cross; her parents; her brothers, L.A.
12Robinson and William "Tater" Willis; her sisters, Mildred T.
13Willis, Benetta Starks, Hansome Conley, and Rebecca "Bec"
14Willis; and her grandparents, Sam and Mary Golliday and
15William and Bertha Willis; and
 
16    WHEREAS, Bertha Cross is survived by her partner of over
1730 years, James "Jack" Jamison; her children, Michael "Mike"
18Willis and Cassandra Cross; her stepchildren, Billy (Angela)
19and Michael Hayes; her Goddaughter, Cherise "Reesee" (Simeon)
20Gillard El; her grandchildren, Tesheena "Sheena" (Darrell)
21Horn and Jaylin D. McClinton; her Godgrandchildren, NeKaiya
22Brandon El, Samara Brandon El, Joycelyn Brandon El, and Simeon
23"Nugget" Brandon El II; her brother, Robert Willis; her

 

 

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1special co-worker, Claudia Vargas; two sisters-in-law; and
2numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends; therefore, be
3it
 
4    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE
5HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
6we mourn the passing of Bertha Bell Cross and extend our
7sincere condolences to her family, friends, and all who knew
8and loved her; and be it further
 
9    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
10presented to the family of Bertha Cross as an expression of our
11deepest sympathy.