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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2     WHEREAS, The members of the Senate of the State of Illinois
3 learned with sadness of the death of Burnnette Watson, age 75,
4 of Chicago, on August 28, 2005; and
 
5     WHEREAS, She was born on May 9, 1930, in Earl, Arkansas, to
6 Spencer Jones and Eliza Bolton; she had 4 brothers, Floyd,
7 Theodore, Ernest, and Preston; her mom moved them to Chicago
8 when Burnnette was young; she graduated from DuSable High
9 School in 1948; and
 
10     WHEREAS, Burnnette was a Certified Nurse's Aide at Mercy
11 Hospital for thirty years in the Pediatric Unit; "Burn", as she
12 was affectionately called, loved the babies and children who
13 were patients; she gave her patients nicknames to soothe them
14 or cheer them; her kindness to patients was well known by
15 Mercy's doctors and nurses; in 1994, she retired from Mercy,
16 but she never forgot the friends with whom she worked; and
 
17     WHEREAS, Burnnette gave life to three children, Annetha,
18 Odell, and Nannette; additionally, she reared three sons,
19 Edward, Henry, and Eddy, and helped raise two other sons,
20 Michael and Elkin; Burn's home was big in heart; she always had
21 extra servings at mealtime for family members, her children's
22 friends, or neighborhood children; in addition to Burn's
23 delicious food, the children in her home, whether they were
24 there for a meal, a month, or a lifetime, received a laugh or a
25 giggle, encouraging words, and, if necessary, a dose of Burn's
26 discipline-always firm, but loving; and
 
27     WHEREAS, Burnnette's faith was deeply important to her;
28 Burnnette's membership in the Bethel A.M.E. Church lasted
29 almost 60 years before she was called home; at Bethel, her
30 beautiful voice was part of the Annie Laura Stewart Ensemble;
31 and she dutifully served as a steward up to the time of her

 

 

SR0513 - 2 - LRB094 15070 AJO 50227 r

1 death; and
 
2     WHEREAS, She was preceded in death by her daughter,
3 Nannette; her parents; two brothers, Theodore and Ernest; and
 
4     WHEREAS, The passing of Burnnette Watson will be felt by
5 all who knew and loved her, especially her son, Odell Jones;
6 her daughter and her husband, Annetha Jones and Edwin McKnight;
7 her seven grandchildren; her sixteen great-grandchildren; and
8 numerous aunts, nieces, nephews, and close friends; therefore,
9 be it
 
10     RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL
11 ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of
12 Burnnette Watson and we extend our sincerest condolences to her
13 family, friends, and community; and be it further
 
14     RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
15 presented to her family as an expression of our deepest
16 sympathy.