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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to
3learn of the death of Elder Willie Gates of Alton, who passed
4away on October 28, 2013; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Willie Gates was born in Hollywood, Mississippi;
6his parents were Dewitt and Almeater (nee Armstrong) Gates; he
7married Mary Ann (nee Hardin) Gates; and
 
8    WHEREAS, Willie Gates was drafted into the United States
9Navy in July of 1943; he received an honorable discharge in
10December of 1945; in 1955, he moved to Alton after his dear
11friend, Pastor Cornelius Brown, offered to move him and his
12family from Arkansas; and
 
13    WHEREAS, Willie Gates was employed at Owens Illinois Glass
14and retired from there after many years of employment; during
15his career, he served as President of the local union and
16attended many years of college at the University of Missouri to
17retain this position; he also worked as a life insurance agent;
18and
 
19    WHEREAS, Willie Gates accepted the Lord at an early age and
20was a member of Belle Street Temple Church of God in Christ
21under the leadership of Superintendent R.J. Monroe; he served

 

 

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1as the District Young People Willing Workers President for many
2years; he was also the founder of Bibleway Church of God in
3Christ and he kept the church until he became ill; and
 
4    WHEREAS, Willie Gates was preceded in death by his parents;
5his brothers, Douglas and Johnny Gates; his sisters, Susie
6Johnson and Mary Ann Gates; and his sons, Ralph and Samuel
7Gates; and
 
8    WHEREAS, Willie Gates is survived by his children, Harold
9(Jean) Gates, Bobby (Eloise) Gates, Louis Gates, Donna Turner,
10Doris (Robert) Douglas, Gregory (Grace) Gates, and Yvonne
11Gates; his 24 grandchildren; his 26 great-grandchildren; his 6
12great-great grandchildren; his brothers, Seymour (Betty)
13Gates, Elexie (Earline) Gates, Tommy (Coretta) Gates, and
14Charles Gates; his sisters, Dorothy Moody, Mary Gates, and
15Shirley Smith; and his many nieces, nephews, cousins, and
16friends; therefore, be it
 
17    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL
18ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we, along with his
19family and friends, mourn the passing of Elder Willie Gates;
20and be it further
 
21    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
22presented to the family of Willie Gates as an expression of our

 

 

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1sympathy.