HR1230 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR1230 LRB096 22282 KXB 41256 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are saddened to learn of the death of Annette Mattie Watkins Whiting of Chicago, who recently passed away; and

WHEREAS, Annette Mattie Watkins, the second child of Henry and Louise Watkins, was born on September 8, 1938, in Port Gibson, Mississippi (West Side); she attended Beachland Elementary School; in the fall of 1952, Annette entered Alcorn High School, a laboratory school, and played shooting forward on the girls' basketball team; she graduated at the top of her class in the spring of 1956; and

WHEREAS, She enrolled as a freshman at Alcorn State University in 1956, majoring in Home Economics; she graduated in three years (1959) with a Bachelor's of Science degree in Home Economics, and a minor in Elementary Education; she met and dated Leroy Whiting when they both attended Alcorn High School and Alcorn State University; they married immediately after graduating from college; and

WHEREAS, During the 1959-1960 school term, Annette lived with Leroy's mother in Rodney, Mississippi, a "Ghost Town", while Leroy worked elsewhere; Annette traveled daily by school bus to a high school located in the nearest small town, Fayette, Mississippi, to work as a Home Economics teacher; and

WHEREAS, During the summer of 1960, Annette and Leroy moved to Chicago, where she worked for 37 years as a Kindergarten-Primary teacher at Faraday Elementary School, a Chicago Public School, before retiring in 1997; and

WHEREAS, Annette was a loving and dedicated wife, mother, and homemaker; she loved decorating her home; she loved to sew and developed into a master seamstress; she was masterful in her practice of frugality as she pursued these and other hobbies; she became well known for her dressing style, impeccable taste, and sense of personal elegance; and

WHEREAS, She demonstrated a tenacious capability to affect others by helping them to build good character; she was always willing to help in times of need; and she enjoyed many years traveling with her family and friends throughout the United States, the Caribbean, Central and South America, and Europe; and

WHEREAS, She leaves to hold in precious memory, her husband, Leroy; her son, Oran (Sarah); her siblings, Irma Scott, George Watkins (Linda), and Mary Watkins; her doting cousin, Honorable Judge Willie Whiting; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives, friends, and former co-workers; 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 Annette Whiting; and be it further

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