HR1071 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR1071 LRB096 21776 GRL 39645 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are saddened to learn of the death of Natalie Rose Wilson Puryear, who passed away on January 6, 2010; and

WHEREAS, Natalie Puryear was born on September 20, 1949, in Chicago; her parents were Nathan and Ruth Wilson; she married James Puryear in 1973; and

WHEREAS, Natalie Puryear attended Providence High School, where she participated in cheerleading, dance, music, and other activities; she then attended the University of Illinois at Chicago; and

WHEREAS, After college, Natalie Puryear began her career as a corporate buyer for Sears Roebuck and Company; she quickly ascended the ranks at Sears until she decided that she wanted to spend more time with her sons; she then moved into the real estate industry, working for Shirley Amico, Trico, and others; she also founded her own firm, Ventures Gained; and

WHEREAS, Natalie Puryear was a member of numerous community organizations, including Africare, Jazz Unites, and Chicago Gospelfests; she was a charter member and major contributor to the Lake Shore Chapter of the Links; she also coordinated the annual "Celebrate South Shore" events; and

WHEREAS, Natalie Puryear served as Vice President of Communications of the Black United Fund of Illinois (BUFI); she was responsible for the creation of BUFI's Living Legends/Passing the Torch Awards, which honored legendary African-American men and women who had a major impact in the communities they served and passed their knowledge and experience to others to keep their initiatives alive; and

WHEREAS, Natalie Puryear was preceded in death by her father and her sister, Linda; and

WHEREAS, Natalie Puryear is survived by her sons, Wesley (Valerie) and Jeffrey; her mother; her siblings, Donald (Ruth), Rita, Claude (Alberta), Rhonda Coriano (Victor), and Lawrence (Sabrina); and her many nieces, nephews, friends, and other relatives; and

WHEREAS, Natalie Puryear will be remembered by all who knew and loved her as a loving, passionate, and hardworking woman whose dedication to her family and community were unmatched; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn, along with her family and friends, the passing of Natalie Rose Puryear; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Natalie Puryear as an expression of our sympathy.