SR0032 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0032 LRB104 08896 MST 18951 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Dr. Obie Rush, who passed away on August 26, 2024; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Rush was born to Johnny Sr. and Dollie Rush on December 2, 1935; he was a member of the Josey Creek Baptist Church in Starkville, Mississippi and graduated from Starkville High School; he married Nellie Kate Watts on October 4, 1954; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Rush began his religious training at American Baptist College in Nashville, Tennessee, where he graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts in 1959; he received his Master of Christian Education in 1970 and his Master of Divinity in 1971, both from Eden Theological Seminary; he received an honorary Doctorate of Divinity from Virginia Seminary and College in Lynchburg, Virginia in 1984 and an honorary Doctorate of Divinity from Eden Theological Seminary in 1988; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Rush accepted the call to pastor in Laurel, Mississippi; he was then called to pastor at St. Paul Baptist Church in East St. Louis in November 1960 and was installed on February 18, 1961, serving almost 50 years; he retired in 2010 and was named pastor emeritus; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Rush had to meet several challenges throughout his pastoral career, including the church being destroyed by fires and floods; he had a vision of erecting an apartment complex for seniors, and the Rush Senior Gardens Apartment Complex was dedicated on January 24, 2010; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Rush was very active in his community and participated in several civic organizations; he was the founder of the Ministers United Against Human Suffering Organization in East St. Louis, where they provided emergency shelter to those in need; he was a board member for the American Baptist College in Nashville, Tennessee and a board member of the Ministerial Alliance of East St. Louis; he was a part of the Metro-East Baptist Association; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Rush served as past moderator of the Woodriver District Association; he was the past president of Ministers United Against Human Suffering, the Ministerial Alliance, and the NAACP of the East St. Louis Chapter; he served as co-chair of the American Cancer Drive; he was a former board member of the Civil Rights Commission of East St. Louis and St. Clair County; he has also served on the East St. Louis District School Board #189 and was a former board member of the East St. Louis Public Library; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Rush was preceded in death by his wife, Nellie; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Rush is survived by his brother, Johnny Rush Sr.; his daughters, Robin Hammonds, Jacqueline Davis (Michael), and Felicia Rush-Taylor; his sons, Gary Gaston and Shawn Taylor; his grandsons, Sean Taylor and Cole Obie Taylor; his granddaughters, Tiffany (Malik) Murphy, Brittany (Pierre) Nelson, Briana Davis, and Jada West; his great-grandchildren, Jaylin, Nicholas, Carson, Carley B., Kyrie, and Kaiden; his special nephew, Gerald Rush; and numerous nieces, nephews, family members, church members, and friends; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Dr. Obie Rush and extend our sincere condolences to his family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it further

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