SR0338 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

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SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Willie David Cooper, who passed away on June 19, 2009; and

WHEREAS, David Cooper was born on May 27, 1949 in Birmingham, Alabama; his parents were JD and Zattie Mae Cooper; he and his family moved to La Grange in 1955 and then to Maywood in 1957; he attended Washington Elementary and graduated from Proviso East High School in 1967; during high school, he was a standout halfback on the high school football team and a well respected member of the concert choir; he continued his education at Triton College in River Grove, where he trained as a counselor and co-founded the Black Student Association and the Baha'i Club; and

WHEREAS, David Cooper provided professional services as a counselor to at-risk youths throughout the State of Illinois; he also dealt with the elderly and special needs clients, including those with cerebral palsy, Down's syndrome, deafness, quadriplegia, and autism; and

WHEREAS, David Cooper was a former member of the Second Baptist Church in La Grange; in 1967, he embraced the teachings of the Baha'i Faith, to which he remained dedicated for the rest of his life as a path to help bring about social justice, the oneness of humanity, and the unity of religion; as a highly reputed community activist and organizer, he was the founder and chair of the Maywood Residents' Council, an association of 125 block clubs whose goal it was to work with residents to improve the quality of community life; he served as a Recreation Counselor for the Village of Maywood and formerly served as a Counselor for the Ray Graham Association, Hart Grove Hospital, Rivers Edge Hospital, and Arise, Inc.; he was also one of the original members of the Maywood Alliance for Better Government, a group responsible for determining the viability of candidates for local elections; in the fall of 2004, he moved to the Madison, Wisconsin area, where he remained until his passing; and

WHEREAS, David Cooper was the author of a self-published volume entitled "Through the Pupil of the Eye" a collection of poems which examined principles of personal responsibility, the plight and injustices of the oppressed, and youth issues and made a fervent appeal to approach life on its own terms; his works were recorded and performed in public and private venues with keyboardist and composer Joah Greengus as "The Sons of Light" in consciousness-raising gatherings from 1995 through 2005; he also had a great talent and appreciation for fine foods and dining and offered catering services during his later years in Maywood; and

WHEREAS, David Cooper was preceded in death by his brothers, JD Cooper, Jr., and Danny K. Cooper; his mother, Zattie Mae Cooper; and his grandmother, Tanner Wheeler; and

WHEREAS, David Cooper is survived by his brother, Leo Cooper and his wife, Kathy; his aunt, Mary E. Lucas; and his numerous friends and co-workers; and

WHEREAS, David Cooper will be remembered by all who knew and loved him as a wonderful man, whose passion and dedication for his faith, his family, his friends, his writing, and his cooking were unmatched; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn, along with his family and friends, the passing of Willie David Cooper; and be it further

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