HR1448 95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR1448 LRB095 21993 GRL 52260 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are proud to recognize individuals and organizations that have contributed to the welfare of the State of Illinois and its citizens or have distinguished themselves through significant personal achievement; and

WHEREAS, The Illinois House of Representatives recognize Dr. Zelda Quarles Birdsong of Chicago on the occasion of being recognized as a nonagenarian member of the Women's Missionary Society during the Annual Conference of the Southeast Missouri, Illinois, and Wisconsin Region of the Third Episcopal District Christian Methodist Episcopal Church, to be held in August of 2008 in St. Louis, Missouri; and

WHEREAS, The Women's Missionary Society and Missionary Region President Christine S. Buchanan are saluting all the pioneering members of the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church who have been blessed to live ninety years or more in order to show God's strength to all the generations that have followed them, as well as in recognition of the Society's 90th anniversary; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Birdsong was born on December 18, 1908; she is a retired teacher and federal government supervisor; she has been a loyal and faithful member of the St. Paul CME Church since 1939; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Birdsong is a member of the CME Hall of Fame; she is also a retired member of the Judicial Council of the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church and an active participant in her community block club; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Birdsong serves as the second President of Presidents for the Women's Missionary Council of the CME Church; she holds an Honorary Doctorate from Miles College and has been the recipient of numerous honors, including Chicago District Missionary of the Year, Southeast Missouri, Illinois, and Wisconsin Region Missionary of the Year, Outstanding Missionary of the Year for the CME Connection, and the Special Service Recognition Award from Allen Metropolitan CME Church in Chicago; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Birdsong has also been lavishly honored by the St. Paul CME Church in Chicago with awards that include the Missionary of the Year, St. Paul's Local Women's Missionary Society's 100th Anniversary Special Recognition Award, Steward of the Year, and Woman of the Year; she was also named the first female Steward and is a former Director of Christian Education; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate Dr. Zelda Quarles Birdsong on the occasion of being recognized as a nonagenarian member of the Women's Missionary Society and wish her continued success and happiness in the future; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Dr. Zelda Quarles Birdsong as a symbol of our esteem and respect.