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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2     WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to
3 learn of the death of Joseph Nathaniel Berry of Alton, who
4 passed away on May 21, 2008; and
 
5     WHEREAS, Joseph Berry was born June 30, 1924, in Alton, the
6 eldest son of Charlie and Violet (Hutchinson) Berry; he
7 celebrated 61 years of marriage to Roberta E. Berry, whom he
8 married in April of 1943 in Springfield, Missouri; she died
9 April 10, 2005; and
 
10     WHEREAS, He was a 1942 graduate of Alton High School, and
11 attended Southern Illinois University studying labor
12 management; he served in the United States Army as an engineer
13 for a total of 11 years and was employed with Laclede Steel
14 Company for 40 years, retiring in 1982; after retirement, he
15 enjoyed collecting antique cars and being a member of the Alton
16 Antique Car Association; and
 
17     WHEREAS, He was born and raised in the African Methodist
18 Episcopal Church and served as trustee and chairman of the
19 board at Allen Chapel for many years; he worked long and hard
20 for the merger of the three A.M.E. churches in Alton and was a
21 charter member of Unity Fellowship Church; and
 

 

 

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1     WHEREAS, He was an active member in many organizations his
2 entire life including, Boy Scout master, neighborhood
3 commissioner, member of the Piasa Bird Council, George
4 Washington Carver Hi Y and president for a number of years; he
5 was inducted into the Association of Iron and Steel Engineers
6 in 1979; he was a charter member of American Legion Post 354
7 and received a Certificate of Appreciation Award; as a young
8 man, he became a member of Dunbar Lodge 97 Masons and served as
9 head of all houses, receiving a 50-year pin; he served as
10 Foster Township Precinct 2 committeeman, was a member of the
11 Foster Township Board and worked on the present water system;
12 and
 
13     WHEREAS, He was a member of the Fosterburg Fire Department,
14 was the last charter member with his name on the roll, chairman
15 of the trustee board, and was involved in planning and building
16 the department into a two-house fire department; he served as a
17 member of the Regional School Board of Trustees for Madison
18 County for 25 years, retiring in 1995; he was president of the
19 NAACP for two years during the passing of the Civil Rights Bill
20 and the assassination of President John F. Kennedy; he was a
21 life member of the NAACP, and worked with the desegregation of
22 Alton Public School System and the integration of many
23 industries in Alton; in 2002, he received the 100 Black Men
24 Living Legend Award; and
 

 

 

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1     WHEREAS, In addition to his wife, he was preceded in death
2 by his parents and two brothers, Charles "Gene" Berry and
3 George "Link" Berry; and
 
4     WHEREAS, Joseph Berry is survived by his four sons and
5 their spouses, Robert and Sandra Berry, Nathaniel G. Berry,
6 George and Janet Berry, and Richard and Kimberly Berry; his 13
7 grandchildren, Darrell, Kaela, Janell, Tonya, Tiara, Karen,
8 Michael, Stephanie, Theresa, Angela, Wendy, Tiana, and
9 Gabrielle; his 22 great-grandchildren; his
10 great-great-grandchild; and a host of nieces, nephews,
11 cousins, and friends; therefore, be it
 
12     RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL
13 ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn, along with
14 his family and friends, the passing of Joseph Berry; and be it
15 further
 
16     RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
17 presented to the family of Joseph Berry as a symbol of our
18 sympathy.