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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2     WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to
3 learn of the death of Doris V. Jefferson of Mascoutah, who
4 passed away on March 24, 2008; and
 
5     WHEREAS, Doris V. Jefferson was born Doris Verneice Price
6 in Gonzalez, Texas; she was one of nine children born to Carl
7 and Eva Price; and
 
8     WHEREAS, After Doris V. Jefferson's family moved to San
9 Antonio, Texas, she attended Phyllis Wheatley High School,
10 where she was a cheerleader and a very popular person; and
 
11     WHEREAS, During World War II, Doris V. Jefferson married
12 Manuel Scates, who served as an airman in the armed forces;
13 during this period, she worked at the Post Exchange at the soda
14 fountain; after her marriage to Mr. Scates ended, she married
15 James Jefferson; together, Mr. and Mrs. Jefferson had four
16 children; and
 
17     WHEREAS, Doris V. Jefferson saw the world with Mr.
18 Jefferson; the two lived in Illinois, France, and England,
19 enjoying jazz, parties, and socializing with friends in many
20 locations; in 1960, they returned to the United States when
21 James was stationed at Scott Air Force Base near Mascoutah; and
 

 

 

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1     WHEREAS, After James Jefferson was sent to Vietnam in 1966,
2 Doris V. Jefferson lived the life of a stay at home mother,
3 helping her children in many ways; she insisted that they
4 attend Sunday school and church and encouraged them to read
5 books and learn all that they could; she also served as coach
6 of a girl's softball team and was the leader of a Girl Scout
7 troop and Cub Scout group; and
 
8     WHEREAS, Spurred by her newly independent lifestyle and the
9 turbulent times of the 1960s, Doris V. Jefferson became engaged
10 in a life of politics and activism; she became involved in
11 Democratic politics and was a delegate to the 1984 convention
12 in New York City; she also met President Jimmy Carter and had a
13 picture of her with Jimmy and Roslyn Carter, which was one of
14 her most prized possessions; and
 
15     WHEREAS, After her husband returned from Vietnam, Doris V.
16 Jefferson and her husband went back to school to get their
17 bachelor's and master's degrees; concurrently, she worked at
18 the library at McKendree College in Lebanon and was a Coro
19 Fellow; and
 
20     WHEREAS, Doris V. Jefferson was preceded in death by her
21 husband, James; her parents; and her eight siblings; and
 

 

 

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1     WHEREAS, Doris V. Jefferson is survived by her children,
2 James Jr., Charles, David, and Eva; and her grandsons, Leo and
3 Tony; therefore, be it
 
4     RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL
5 ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn, along with
6 her family and friends, the passing of Doris V. Jefferson; and
7 be it further
 
8     RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
9 presented to the family of Doris V. Jefferson as an expression
10 of our sympathy.