HR1137 LRB096 21985 KXB 40166 r

1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2     WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of
3 Representatives are saddened to learn of the death of Reverend
4 Dr. Claude S. Wyatt, Jr., Founding Pastor of the Vernon Park
5 Church of God in Chicago, who passed away on April 11, 2010;
6 and
 
7     WHEREAS, For over 40 years, Reverend Wyatt was a vital part
8 of his community and was responsible for rehabilitating
9 alcoholics and drug addicts, working with young people, gangs,
10 and juveniles in trouble; he lived on Chicago's "Skid Row" for
11 a small time as part of his special training as an urban
12 pastor; and
 
13     WHEREAS, Reverend Claude Wyatt, Jr., at the request of the
14 Ministry of Kingston, Jamaica, served in a series of
15 evangelical and social outreach ministries for several years as
16 a speaker and instructor; the Wyatt Day Care Center was
17 established in honor of his work in Jamaica; and
 
18     WHEREAS, Through his association with the late Dr. Martin
19 Luther King, Jr., Reverend Claude Wyatt, Jr. served as Chicago
20 Director of the Ministerial Leadership Training Program for the
21 Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC); he served as
22 one of the organizers of Operation Breadbasket and Operation

 

 

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1 PUSH (People United to Serve Humanity); he was a board member
2 of PUSH and a constituent for Urban Ministries for the Church
3 of God, Anderson, Indiana; he was a member of the Chicago Urban
4 League and a former member of the Chicago Baptist Institute; he
5 served as a spiritual leader to Chicago Mayors Eugene Sawyer
6 and Richard M. Daley; he also served as a resource person for
7 various religious, community, and business groups; and
 
8     WHEREAS, Reverend Claude Wyatt, Jr., was the author of 2
9 unpublished books for the Anderson School of Theology, "Church
10 Management and Finances" and "The Agony of What He Saw", and
11 numerous articles; and
 
12     WHEREAS, Reverend Claude Wyatt, Jr., served as a delegate
13 to the World Congress in Zurich, Switzerland; he has been
14 honored on countless occasions for his pastoral, religious, and
15 executive leadership; and
 
16     WHEREAS, In 1978, Reverend Claude Wyatt, Jr., was honored
17 by the prestigious Blackbook Business and National Publication
18 Agency and one of the Ten Outstanding Business and Professional
19 Persons; on November 30, 1989, he was inducted into the DuSABLE
20 Umbrella Alumni, Inc. Hall of Fame; and
 
21     WHEREAS, Reverend Claude Wyatt, Jr., served in the ministry
22 for over 44 years until his retirement in 2000; upon his

 

 

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1 retirement, the Vernon Park Church of God in Chicago named him
2 the church's Founder and Pastor Emeritus in recognition of his
3 role as the church's founding pastor; and
 
4     WHEREAS, Reverend Claude Wyatt, Jr., was preceded in death
5 by his parents, Anna and Claude Wyatt Sr.; his son, Renaldo
6 "Renny" Wyatt; his brothers, Henry, Calvin, and Reverend
7 Lawrence Wyatt; and his sister, Marvie Banks; and
 
8     WHEREAS, Reverend Claude Wyatt, Jr., is survived by his
9 loving wife of 69 years, Reverend Dr. Addie L. Wyatt; his son,
10 Reverend Claude L. Wyatt (Yvonne); his grandchildren, Allen L.
11 Wyatt, Rene Wyatt-Hall (Joel), Brian K. Wyatt (BiBi), Sharon A.
12 Wyatt, Darren Montgomery (Selinda), and Claudea Wyatt-Ellis
13 (William); his 14 great-grandchildren; his 4
14 great-great-grandchildren; his nieces, Wylynn Banks, Sherilyn
15 Wyatt-Wickes (Keith), Bathsheba Wyatt-Draper, Jerri
16 Wyatt-Hoover, and Terri Wyatt; his nephews, Ronald Wyatt
17 (Sylvia), Paul Wyatt (Lucinda), and Max Wyatt; his
18 sisters-in-law, Maude McKay (Robert), Laura Cameron-Cobb, and
19 Artelia Wyatt; his brother-in-law, Jerome Dandridge; his
20 god-daughter, Reverend VaCountess Johnson; and his special and
21 devoted friend, Rev. Dr. Willie Taplin Barrow; and
 
22     WHEREAS, Reverend Claude Wyatt, Jr., served as a shining
23 beacon of piety, compassion, and integrity for countless people

 

 

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1 and inspired many to enter the ministry and do great things for
2 God; therefore, be it
 
3     RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
4 NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we
5 mourn, along with his family and friends, the passing of
6 Reverend Dr. Claude S. Wyatt, Jr.; and be it further
 
7     RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
8 presented to the family of Reverend Claude S. Wyatt, Jr., as an
9 expression of our sympathy.