SR1688 98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

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SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of James "Jimmy" W. Knight, who passed away on September 13, 2013; and

WHEREAS, James Knight was born on June 7, 1935; his parents were John Knight and Mildred Shelton; he married Ollie Burns Thompson in 1956; they were re-married in 2001; and

WHEREAS, James Knight completed his early education at Calvin Donaldson Junior High School and Howard High School in Chattanooga, Tennessee; after he was honorably discharged, he subsequently continued his education at the Allied School of Technology's Tool and Die Making program and Kennedy-King College in Chicago; and

WHEREAS, James Knight accepted Christ as his personal savior at an early age; he was a faithful member of Parkway Garden Christian Church; and

WHEREAS, James Knight served his country as a member of the United States Air Force; he later retired at the rank of Sergeant First Class from the United States Army National Guard's 933rd Military Police Company; and

WHEREAS, James Knight retired from the United States Postal Service after 30 years on the same mail route in the Bridgeport community; after retiring, he enjoyed spending time with his many friends at "his office" and Saturday morning breakfast with his military "family"; and

WHEREAS, James Knight was preceded in death by his parents and a daughter, Mildred; and

WHEREAS, James Knight is survived by his wife, Dr. Ollie M. Knight; 3 children, Rev. Melody Seaton, Dr. Millicent Knight (Dr. Harvey Echols), and Monica Smith; 8 grandchildren, Kenny Whigham, Michael and Curtis Milner, Veronique (Earnest) Crim Wallace, Ernest (Cassie) Crim, III, Jaylen and Jahmal Smith, and Matthew Echols; 8 great-grandchildren, Chloe, Rassan, Janea, Kwonzel, Nastassja, Meriah, Kiara, and Jamar; 4 godchildren, Wennoa Lewis-Blair and Brenda, Mariner, and Theodore Brinson; 2 cousins, Pamela Dave and Jackie Jones; 3 sisters-in-law, Charlie B. (Jarvis) Stamps, Aggie, and Mamie; a brother-in-law, United States Representative Bennie (London) Thompson; and many other family members and friends; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we, along with his family and friends, mourn the passing of James "Jimmy" W. Knight; and be it further

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