Bill Text: IL HR0544 | 2023-2024 | 103rd General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Mourns the passing of John Willis Johnson.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Passed) 2024-01-16 - Resolution Adopted [HR0544 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2023-HR0544-Introduced.html

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HOUSE RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of
Representatives are saddened to learn of the death of John
Willis Johnson, who passed away on December 18, 2023; and
WHEREAS, John Johnson was born to Chester Johnson and
Clorine McGilberry in Ellisville, Mississippi on February 10,
1944; he attended Roosevelt Elementary School in Ellis; after
moving to St. Louis with his mother and siblings, he continued
his education in the St. Louis public school system; he
graduated from Soldan High School in 1964, where he lettered
in basketball, tennis, and baseball; he briefly attended
Culver Stockton College; he married Shirley Jean Smith on May
30, 1965; and
WHEREAS, John Johnson worked at Mallinckrodt/Tyco/Covidien
from April 1965 until his retirement in July 2010; and
WHEREAS, John Johnson was a union advocate and held
several positions during his career, including shop steward,
vice president, and president of UAW Local 1887; he went to
Washington, D.C. with Jim Wells, then-director of UAW Region
5, to testify before Congress on plant safety issues; and
WHEREAS, John Johnson played basketball in both industrial

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and independent leagues for more than 20 years; he then
volunteered his services as assistant coach of the Beaumont
High School Varsity Basketball Team alongside his friend Bob
Cole, the program's head coach; and
WHEREAS, John Johnson committed to his faith at an early
age; he was baptized at Mount Aid Missionary Baptist Church,
which was built by his grandfather, John, and other family
members in 1885 and still has an active church community
today; at Mount Aid, he was active in the Baptist Training
Union and the Sunday School, where he served as superintendent
as a pre-teen; he also attended Douglas Chapel AME, where his
father served as a deacon; after moving to St. Louis, he became
a member of Zion Temple Missionary Baptist Church; he and his
wife established a membership at West Side Missionary Baptist
Church; and
WHEREAS, John Johnson's love for his family was vitally
important to him, and he was an avid supporter and leader of
the annual McGilberry Family Reunions from 1982 to 2023; and
WHEREAS, John Johnson was preceded in death by his wife of
57 years, Shirley; his parents, Chester Johnson and Clorine
McGilberry McCann; his sister, Shirley Keyes; his brothers,
Teddy Johnson, Clarence McCann, and Gerald McCann; his
in-laws, Leslie and Beulah M. Smith, Lester Smith, Laura

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Trice, and Howard and Hurletta Davidson; and
WHEREAS, John Johnson is survived by his sons, Anthony
(Angelita) Johnson and Terrell Washington; his grandchildren,
Ciara, Jameelah, and Khairi; his great-grandson Jourdyn; his
aunt, Zemma Conner; his sisters, Fannie Simpson, Carolyn Reed,
and Ruth (Charles) McGee; his brothers, George (Marian)
McGilberry, Larry McCann, and James H. Johnson; his
sister-in-law, Christine (Carl) Williams Jr.; his
brother-in-law, Charles (Christy) Smith Sr.; and a host of
nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends; therefore, be it
RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE
HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
we mourn the passing of John Willis Johnson and extend our
sincere condolences to his family, friends, and all who knew
and loved him; and be it further