SR0451 LRB094 13877 CSA 48751 r

1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2     WHEREAS, The members of the Senate of the State of Illinois
3 learned with sadness of the death of Betty L. Thomas of Camden,
4 New Jersey, on August 19, 2005; and
 
5     WHEREAS, Mrs. Thomas was born on August 12, 1927, in
6 Easton, Maryland, the seventh of thirteen children; she was
7 raised in Easton and attended high school in the Easton
8 community public school system; after she graduated, she
9 enrolled in an administrative training program which would give
10 her the skills she would later need to hold several managerial
11 positions throughout her life, specifically at the INA
12 Insurance Company of Pennsylvania, where she worked for over 10
13 years; and
 
14     WHEREAS, Mrs. Thomas, then Ms. Betty Leatherberry, met
15 Clarence Thomas while growing up in Easton, Maryland; the two
16 became friends and later got married, enjoying a marriage union
17 which would last for over 55 years; they settled in Camden, New
18 Jersey, and raised their beautiful children, Terra, Ronald
19 Michael, and Dwayne; later in her life, she became the very
20 proud grandmother to nine precious children whose laughter
21 became the light of her life; and
 
22     WHEREAS, Mrs. Thomas was an exceptional wife, a devoted
23 mother of four, and a spiritual woman who gladly committed her
24 life to her community in Camden, New Jersey, and the Ferry
25 Avenue Methodist Church for over 50 years; and
 
26     WHEREAS, A stranger to no one in her community, Mrs. Thomas
27 was considered a community leader in Camden, New Jersey, being
28 active on several community, civic, and hospital advisory
29 committees; she also gave back to her community as an
30 educational assistant and later happily volunteered her
31 services at Rutgers University's LEAP Academy Charter School; a

 

 

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1 true woman of God, Mrs. Thomas made the church the backbone of
2 her and her family's life, attending services for more than 50
3 years, teaching Sunday school, and devoting herself to over ten
4 ministries throughout her time; and
 
5     WHEREAS, Mrs. Betty Thomas lived a full life for 78
6 glorious years; she will surely be missed by all who knew her,
7 and her compassion and love for all will live within them
8 forever; therefore, be it
 
9     RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL
10 ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of
11 Betty L. Thomas and extend our sincerest condolences to her
12 family, friends, and community; and be it further
 
13     RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
14 presented to her family as an expression of our deepest
15 sympathy.