SR0712 94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0712 LRB094 20137 HSS 57879 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Senate of the State of Illinois learned with regret of the death of Bishop Eddie A. Morgan on Friday, March 10, 2006; and

WHEREAS, Bishop Morgan was born on August 19, 1919, in Little Rock, Arkansas, to Willie and Beatrice Hill Morgan; he was married to Irene "Sugar" Morgan for 50 years; she preceded him in death; and

WHEREAS, Bishop Morgan leaves a legacy of ministry; he was a former pastor of a Church of the Living God in East St. Louis for 13 years; he later became pastor of the Church of the Living God C.W.F.F. Temple #46 in Decatur, where he served for 44 years, retiring nearly three years ago; and

WHEREAS, He served his congregation and community with leadership; during his time of dedicated service, more than 18 men and women became ordained or received credentials as ministers, evangelists, or missionaries; he inspired the building of the existing edifice on Franklin Street, and the mortgage was burned in 1989; and

WHEREAS, As a civil rights leader, he was committed to equal rights and justice; he fought hard to get jobs for others in work places that often did selective hiring; in the 1960s, he and a few other leaders supported Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. by leading marches in Decatur; and

WHEREAS, Bishop Morgan was frequently asked to serve on committees; he served on the Mental Health Board, the Board of Consumer Credit Management, the YMCA Board of Directors, and many more boards; he was an active member of the Ministers Alliance; he served as the presiding Bishop over the Seventh Dioceses: Kansas, Western Missouri, Nebraska, and Colorado; and

WHEREAS, In recognition of the fruits of his labor and leadership, numerous organizations bestowed honors upon him; a few of his honors included the NAACP Joe Slaw Civil Rights Award, the Illinois Wisconsin I.B.P.O. Elks-Distinguished Service Award, the YMCA Board of Directors Award, the Church of the Living God District #7 Recognition, a Certificate of Appreciation from the Illinois Department of Corrections, and a Certificate of Recognition from Benedict College in Columbia, South Carolina; and

WHEREAS, The passing of Bishop Morgan has been deeply felt by many, especially his brothers, Nathaniel (Susie) Morgan, James Morgan, Leslie Morgan, and Samuel (Gwendolyn) Morgan; his sisters, Willie Mae Walker and Clarice (Rudolph) Lewis; and a host of nieces and nephews; in addition to his wife, he was preceded in death by his parents; his brothers, Dr. Otis Morgan and Leroy Morgan; and his sister, Beatrice Morgan; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Bishop Eddie A. Morgan, and we extend our sincere condolences to his family, congregation, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it further

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