HR1448 99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR1448 LRB099 23667 GRL 51176 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are saddened to learn of the death of Mother Letha West, who passed away on October 13, 2016; and

WHEREAS, Letha West was born on July 13, 1916 in Crystal Springs, Mississippi; her parents were Louella and Green Lofton; she married William West, Jr. on June 15, 1940; and

WHEREAS, Letha West was educated in Greenville, Mississippi, where she received her elementary and secondary education certificates; in the late 1940s, she and her husband moved to Chicago, where they became members of Zion Hill Missionary Baptist Church in 1948; she worked diligently at Zion Hill on the Nurses Board and the Mother's Board; she also enjoyed Sunday school; and

WHEREAS, Letha West worked in manufacturing at John E. Fast & Company for over 25 years, where she developed condensers until her retirement; and

WHEREAS, Letha West was preceded in death by her parents and her siblings, David Lofton, Sr. (Becky), Neasie Lofton Price (Riley), and Mother Pinkie Lee (James) Ward; and

WHEREAS, Letha West is survived by her daughters, Doris Vernell and Shirley Ann; her sons-in-law, Charles Myhand and Frank Quabena Antwi-Barfi; her brother, Frederick (Roxie) Penner; her sister, Arveal "Pat" (Julius) Scott; her grandchildren, Kuchambi Charles (Laurie) Myhand, Osayande William Myhand, Shomari Abasi Myhand, Amma Letha Antwi-Barfi, and Adwoa Victoria Antwi-Barfi; her great-granddaughter, Nandi Burton Myhand; her nieces, Denese Penner-Smith, Min. Julia Lee (Calvin) Carter, Pinkie (Rev. Thaddeus) Wills, Cassandra Jenkins (O'Brian), Aleria Michelle Lofton, Gwendolyn Smith Johnson, Grace Rowell, and Denise (Gary) Moore; her nephews, Zachery Penner, Riley Price, Jr., Cornell (Anita) Scott, John Smith, Jr., Alaric Penner (Meredith Yacar), Julius Scott, Jr., and Stanley Troy Scott; her great-nieces, Amana Johari Hemy (Ray), Cyntria Richardson, Charmaine Street, Latonya (Marcus) Turner, and Leticia Wills; her great-nephews, Asante Allen and Rashad David Lofton; and many other relatives, special friends, and church families; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we, along with her family and friends, mourn the passing of Mother Letha West; and be it further

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