SR0566 95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0566 LRB095 20307 KXB 47390 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Josephine Leah Bulger Lewis of Chicago, who passed away on February 19, 2008; and

WHEREAS, She was born on March 9, 1928, the second oldest of six children born to Idella Atkins and Horace Ward Bulger, Sr., in Chicago; she grew up on the South Side of Chicago where she attended Cosmopolitan Community Church; Josephine confessed her belief in Jesus Christ at an early age, was baptized, and began her Christian journey; she attended Doolittle Elementary School and graduated Valedictorian of her eighth grade class; she continued her education at Englewood High School and Wilson Junior College; she met her beloved husband John Lewis II and after a short courtship they were married at Cosmopolitan Community Church on June 22, 1947; and

WHEREAS, Josephine continued her education at Roosevelt University where she completed a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Education in 1965 while working at Illinois Bell Telephone Company; after graduation, Josephine taught at Stagg Elementary School for a few years; while a member at Arnette A.M.E. Church, she developed a close relationship with Reverend Evelyn Hooks, who suggested to Josephine to pray and ask God for His will; through prayer and supplication Josephine received the answer to her prayer and was set apart as a Deaconess in the African Methodist Church in 1977; and

WHEREAS, In the early 80's Josephine and John transferred their membership to Maple Park United Methodist Church, where she became active in various ministries in the church, including the Chancel Choir, Building Fund Committee, United Methodist Women, Stephen's Ministry, and Worship Committee; she completed the training required by the Northern Illinois Conference and was the first Deaconess in the Northern Illinois Conference; and

WHEREAS, She founded Phoebe's Place, a senior drop-in center, over 20 years ago, in Maple Park United Methodist Church; Hidden Treasures was established in 1996, a day care center for those suffering with Alzheimer's Disease; she received many awards and honors for her hard work, including being named the Coca Cola Person of the Month; named by Mayor Daley and the Chicago Department on Aging as an African-American History Making Senior; saluted by Channel 5 (NBC Chicago) with a Lifetime Achievement and Commitment to Enhancing Lives to Citizens in Chicago; and she was honored by Channel 7's (ABC Chicago) Harry Porterfield, who saluted Jo as Someone You Should Know; and

WHEREAS, She was preceded in death by her son John H. Lewis III; and

WHEREAS, Josephine Lewis is survived by her husband, John H. Lewis II; her son, Ronald K. Lewis (Doris Lewis); her daughter, Cheryl P. Lewis; her beloved daughter-in-law, Vivian M. Lewis; her two granddaughters, Kimberly Davis and Sequoya Lewis; her great-granddaughter, Christian A.M. Davis; her sister, Patricia Bell-Phillips (Romeo); her brother, Horace W. Bulger II; a host of nieces and nephews, great nieces and nephews, several cousins, and a host of close friends; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn, along with her family and friends, the passing of Josephine Lewis; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Josephine Lewis as a symbol of our sincere sympathy.