HR0932 102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0932 LRB102 28851 ECR 40740 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are saddened to learn of the death of Barbara Jean Tatum, who passed away on June 8, 2022; and

WHEREAS, Barbara Tatum was born to Willie L. Lee Sr. and Vinney Gillespie Lee in Meridian, Mississippi on November 16, 1938; she attended Dunbar High School, Wilson Junior College, Roosevelt University, and Trinity College and Seminary; she married Reverend B.J. Tatum Sr.; and

WHEREAS, Barbara Tatum worked as a legal secretary in the federal government and an administrative secretary to the former Mayor of Urbana; she served as the director of Christian Education and the administrative secretary at Canaan Baptist Church; she also wrote the weekly religious column Reflections in The Woodlawn Observer, a community-based newspaper; and

WHEREAS, Barbara Tatum held a number of responsibilities in her role as director of Christian Education at Canaan Baptist Church; alongside her husband, she taught classes and seminars on relationships; she taught teacher training classes, training classes on discipleship follow-up for P.A.C.E. (People Available to Encourage), child evangelism, a Sunday school teacher's class on methods and relevancy, a discipleship class on interpersonal relationships, and a Sunday morning women's discipleship class; she conducted seminars and workshops for women on spiritual growth and faith education, and she addressed women's groups in various cities of the United States as well as in Athens and Crete, Greece; she and her husband were facilitators at marriage retreats at various churches throughout the United States, and they also attended a mission trip to Beijing and Hong Kong; she was also director of the Amazing Women Ministry, God's Gems Mosaic, and the Children's Ministry; and

WHEREAS, Barbara Tatum served as president of the Women's Department of the Progressive Baptist District Association of Chicago and Vicinity; she served on the board of directors of the American Cancer Society, the Canaan Development Foundation, and the Canaan Credit Union; and

WHEREAS, Barbara Tatum was preceded in death by her parents; her daughter, Pamela Jean Tatum; and her siblings, Willie L. Lee Jr., Rosie Mae Johnson, Nathan Henry Lee, John Arnold Lee, and Robert Earl Lee; and

WHEREAS, Barbara Tatum is survived by her husband; her daughters, Yolanda Tatum-Brown and Stephanie Lynne Tatum; her son, Bryant Jay (Jennifer) Tatum; her grandsons, Everett, Supreme, Bryson, Jordan, and Ishine; her sister, Beverly Moore; and a host of other relatives and special friends; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED SECOND GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Barbara Jean Tatum and extend our sincere condolences to her family, friends, and all who knew and loved her; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Barbara Tatum as an expression of our deepest sympathy.