SR0613 94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0613 LRB094 19488 RSP 55322 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Senate of the State of Illinois learned with regret of the death of Pastor Elder Jesse Wallace of Waukegan on Tuesday, January 17, 2006; and

WHEREAS, Elder Wallace was born on October 1, 1920 to Jesse Wallace and Susannah Rice Wallace; he married Mother Thelma (Davenport) Wallace; and was a veteran of the United States Navy; and

WHEREAS, Elder Wallace served faithfully as a Deacon and later became a licensed Minister during his tenure at the Waukegan Church of God In Christ (C.O.G.I.C.); he served as Assistant Pastor at Zion Temple C.O.G.I.C. where he became an ordained Elder; in 1965, he helped establish the Faith Tabernacle C.O.G.I.C. in Zion, Illinois; and in 1968 he became Superintendent of the Friendship District where he served until 1999; and

WHEREAS, Jesse Wallace was not only a Spiritual Leader, he was also a leader in business and public service; in 1950, he founded and became CEO of Jesse Wallace Landscaping and Black Topping, Inc.; he assisted people coming from the South to obtain jobs, shelter, and food in the communities he served, particularly after the great flood of 1966; and in 1975, he established the Faith Tabernacle Food Pantry, now known as the Faith Food Pantry, the largest food pantry and relief station in Lake County; and

WHEREAS, He was preceded in death by his wife, Mother Thelma Wallace; his parents; his son, John A. Jones; and his sisters, Thelma Hill and Edna Young; and

WHEREAS, The passing of Pastor Elder Jesse Wallace has been deeply felt by many, especially his daughters, Mary Terry Wiley, Theresa Murphy-McElveen, Thelma (John) Southall, and Deborah (Robert) Richards Jr.; his son Elder Henry Eugene (Loretta ) Jones; his oldest grandson, John D. Jones whom he raised; his special daughter-in-law, Juanita (Floyd) Edgecomb; his goddaughters, Victoria Lewis, Yvonne Evans, and Alice Sherrod; his brothers, Clarence (Willa) Wallace, Larry (Doris) Wallace, Theatra Wallace, and Lee (Jimmie) Wallace; his sister, Elenora Hopkins; his grandchildren; his great-grandchildren; and his many nieces, nephews, cousins, friends, and loving Faith Tabernacle Church family; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Pastor Elder Jesse Wallace, and we extend our sincerest 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 his family as an expression of our deepest sympathy for their loss.