HR0557LRB103 37747 ECR 67875 r

1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of
3Representatives are saddened to learn of the death of Marcia
4Yvonne Lewis, who passed away on January 3, 2024; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Marcia Lewis was born Leona Oliver on August 16,
61946; she didn't know her parents or the place she was born, as
7her first foster parents changed her name soon after birth; as
8a young girl, she was adopted by Elmore and Otha Miles, an Army
9couple, and they welcomed her into a loving family with four
10siblings, Anthony, Denise, the late Timothy, and Regina; and
 
11    WHEREAS, Marcia Lewis traveled the world with the Miles
12family; while they were stationed in Germany, her mother died,
13and the family returned to the United States; she was 15 years
14old, and although her father decided to return to Germany, she
15stayed behind in Chicago to live with her father's sister,
16Princetta; and
 
17    WHEREAS, Marcia Lewis moved to California, and she had her
18first child, Rosslyn, in 1964; she returned to Chicago and
19gave birth to her second child, Jonathon Sr. in 1966; and
 
20    WHEREAS, In the 1970s, Marcia Lewis met and married Phil
21Lewis, a WW II veteran and jitney driver, who became a beacon

 

 

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1of stability for her and her children until his death in 1982;
2and
 
3    WHEREAS, Marcia Lewis eventually moved to Peoria, and in
4the early 1990s, she began taking in foster children, four of
5whom she adopted; she cultivated loving spaces for her adopted
6children, her biological children, and her many grandchildren;
7her home was filled with her beautiful crafts, her son
8Jonathon's art, and, at Christmas time, her festive holiday
9decorations; and
 
10    WHEREAS, In her later years, Marcia Lewis developed a
11loving community of close friends and neighbors at the Grand
12Regency of Peoria, where she enjoyed good food, Grand Regency
13gossip, and people watching at the facility's long winding
14entrance; she was an abiding, listening ear during chats with
15her sister, Denise, who called daily; and
 
16    WHEREAS, Marcia Lewis was preceded in death by her husband
17and her son, Chauncie; and
 
18    WHEREAS, Marcia Lewis is survived by her children,
19Jonathon Romain Sr. (Nikki), Rosslyn, Curtis, Lacretia, and
20Ladarius; her special children, Teonna Ware and Eric Edwards;
2114 grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; seven
22great-great-grandchildren; and a host of cousins, nieces,

 

 

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1nephews, and friends; therefore, be it
 
2    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE
3HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
4we mourn the passing of Marcia Yvonne Lewis and extend our
5sincere condolences to her family, friends, and all who knew
6and loved her; and be it further
 
7    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
8presented to the family of Marcia Lewis as an expression of our
9deepest sympathy.