HR0032 94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0032 LRB094 06854 HSS 36960 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, James A. Martin, Sr., was born in Yazoo City, Mississippi, on February 9, 1915, to Anderson and Florence Martin, nee Williams; he is the brother of six, five brothers and one sister; and

WHEREAS, He has been married to Gloria (Orr) Martin for 20 years and is the father of 5 adult children; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Martin was converted in 1931 and baptized by Reverend C.V. Hill in Murphy, Mississippi; he was a member of several Baptist Churches in Mississippi, including Jerusalem Baptist Church in Belzonia, Mississippi; Bethlehem Baptist Church; and King Solomon Baptist Church, where he sang in the choir; and

WHEREAS, He moved to East Chicago, Indiana, in 1939 and began working in an automobile plant; he became a member of Tabernacle Baptist Church under the leadership of Reverend L. Ruffin and then moved to Chicago in the 1940s; he became a member of Progressive Baptist Church under the leadership of Reverend Brown; and

WHEREAS, Reverend Martin was ordained as a minister in June of 1950 by Reverend K.D. Clay; he was appointed acting pastor of Beacon Light Missionary Baptist Church of Chicago in March of 1964 and was appointed pastor of Beacon Light Missionary Baptist Church of Chicago in September of the same year; and

WHEREAS, He was formally educated at the Baptist Institute of Chicago and LaSalle University; he has more than 20 years of continuing education courses in Christian Education through the Progressive Baptist Convention; and

WHEREAS, Reverend Martin is affiliated with the Old Veterans' Club and has served in various capacities in the Ministers' Conference of Chicago and Vicinity; he faithfully served as pastor of Beacon Light Church until December 26, 2004; and

WHEREAS, A retirement celebration in his honor is being held on Sunday, February 20, 2005 at Maryland Avenue Baptist Church; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate Reverend James A. Martin, Sr., on the occasion of his retirement celebration, and we wish him well in his retirement; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Reverend Martin as an expression of our esteem.