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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

  
 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of 
3Representatives are saddened to learn of the death of Deacon 
4Willie T. Summerville of Urbana, who passed away on March 7, 
52017 at the age of 73; and
  
 
6    WHEREAS, Deacon Summerville contributed a great deal to the 
7Champaign-Urbana community over his 50 years in the area; and
  
 
8    WHEREAS, Deacon Summerville had an overwhelming and 
9abundant faith in Jesus Christ and was committed to sharing 
10that faith with every life he touched; and
 
11    WHEREAS, Deacon Summerville served as a minister of music 
12and Sunday School teacher; he was an active
member of the 
13PACE/SWAT ministries at Canaan Baptist Church, conducting 
14door-to-door
evangelism throughout the  community; and
 
15    WHEREAS, Deacon Summerville had a profound love for music, 
16and
in particular, for sacred music; he worked to foster his 
17love of music in primary, middle,
secondary, and higher 
18education throughout his community, including at Urbana High 
19School, the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign  African

20American Studies, Canaan Baptist Church, Canaan Academy, St. 
21Luke CME Church,  and Hinds
College in Hinds, Mississippi; he 
 
 
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1conducted countless music workshops throughout the country and

2abroad; and
 
3    WHEREAS, Although Deacon Summerville can never be 
4replaced, continuing to follow his examples of love, service, 
5joy, and encouragement will improve the lives of many of those 
6in his community; and
 

  
7    WHEREAS, Deacon Summerville was preceded in death by his 
8wife of 48 years, Valerian Summerville; and
  
 
9    WHEREAS, Deacon Summerville is survived by his children, 
10Derrick (Roslyn) Arnett, Shandra Alexander, and William

11(Danielle) Moses; his grandchildren, Darius (Jazmine) Julian, 
12Adrian Rochelle,
Makeda Gabriel, Jaxon Allery, and Ezekiel 
13Thomas; his  great-granddaughter, Amiyah Amani;
hundreds of 
14former students from his teaching
career; many godchildren; and 
15a
host of nieces, nephews, cousins, special friends, and 
16students throughout the nation; therefore, be it
  
 
17    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE 
18HUNDREDTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we 
19mourn the passing of Deacon Willie T. Summerville, and extend 
20our sincere condolences to his family, friends, and all who 
21knew and loved him; and be it further
 
  
 
 
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1    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
2presented to the family of Deacon Summerville as an expression 
3of our deepest sympathy.