HR0687 95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0687 LRB095 13148 KXB 38804 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are saddened to learn of the death of Velma Louise Carey of Springfield, who passed away on August 11, 2007; and

WHEREAS, Velma Carey was born June 29, 1928, in Selma, Alabama, the daughter of Priscilla Stewart and Elcanie Page; she married C. Lee Carey and together they moved first to Champaign-Urbana and the University of Illinois, and later to Springfield in the 1950s; and

WHEREAS, Velma Carey was the first black sales clerk hired at a former downtown Springfield store, Myers Brothers; she went on to battle for civil rights, fighting against discriminatory housing policies and testifying against the City of Springfield during the 1980s voting rights trial, which led to the current form of aldermanic government in the City; and

WHEREAS, Velma Carey became an expert on Springfield's 1908 race riots; she was a leader in the Springfield Urban League; she was personnel director at the former Sangamon State University until her retirement; and she was named one of twelve women in Springfield who changed the City by radio station WUIS-FM; and

WHEREAS, Velma Carey was preceded in death by her husband, C. Lee Carey, and her brothers, Ezra Roland and Gardner Page; and

WHEREAS, Velma Carey is survived by her daughter, Carolyn (Robert) Blackwell; her sons, Stephen (Toye) Carey and Arthur Carey Sr.; her grandchildren, Tracey Meares, Nicole Florence, M.D., Deanna Blackwell, Arthur Carey Jr., Anthony Carey, and Erica Townsend; her great-grandchildren, Rosa and Elijah Florence, Jordan, Jude, and Jonas Meares-Garcia, Arthur Carey III, and Amaya Townsend; her sisters, Ruthie Gaither and Mattie Chaney; and her nieces and nephews, including her nephews in Springfield, Kenneth and James Page; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of this great woman and send our condolences to her family at this time; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Velma Carey as a symbol of our sympathy.