Bill Text: IL HR0868 | 2015-2016 | 99th General Assembly | Introduced
Bill Title: Mourns the death of Dr. Carrie Louise Filer Ellis Davis.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Passed) 2015-12-02 - Resolution Adopted [HR0868 Detail]
Download: Illinois-2015-HR0868-Introduced.html
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1 | HOUSE RESOLUTION
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2 | WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of | ||||||
3 | Representatives are saddened to learn of the death of Dr. | ||||||
4 | Carrie Louise Filer Ellis Davis; and
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5 | WHEREAS, Dr. Davis was born 91 years ago in Marianna, | ||||||
6 | Arkansas to Vera and Squire Filer; she attended Moten | ||||||
7 | Elementary and was a member of St. Luke African Methodist | ||||||
8 | Episcopal Church; she was valedictorian of her high school | ||||||
9 | class at Robert Moten High School and graduated cum laude from | ||||||
10 | Arkansas AM & N (now the University
of Arkansas at Pine Bluff), | ||||||
11 | where she joined her beloved Sigma Gamma Rho
Sorority, | ||||||
12 | Incorporated; while at Arkansas AM & N, she was an accomplished | ||||||
13 | member of the basketball team and was
entrusted to work in the | ||||||
14 | President's office; she had the distinguished
honor of being | ||||||
15 | the first, and for a time, the only female on the university's | ||||||
16 | winning
varsity debate team; she was the winner of the Scipio | ||||||
17 | A. Jones Oratorical Contest
and won the Outstanding Actress | ||||||
18 | Award; she was crowned both "Miss Omega"
of Omega Psi Phi | ||||||
19 | Fraternity, Incorporated and "Miss Arkansas State" Campus
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20 | Queen; after attending Arkansas AM & N, she attended | ||||||
21 | Northwestern University and
Northeastern University, where she | ||||||
22 | received her Master of Arts; she earned her doctoral degree | ||||||
23 | from the University of Sarasota, where she graduated with | ||||||
24 | honors; she later taught other doctoral candidates and was a |
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1 | member of the
Board of Trustees of the University of Sarasota; | ||||||
2 | and
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3 | WHEREAS, Dr. Davis taught at Robert Moten High School in | ||||||
4 | Marianna, Arkansas for
7 years; she was the first classroom | ||||||
5 | teacher to ever deliver the Keynote
Address at the State of | ||||||
6 | Arkansas Teachers' Meeting at the capitol in Little Rock; and
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7 | WHEREAS, Dr. Davis left Arkansas for Chicago, she became a | ||||||
8 | member of Greater Institutional AME
Church for a few years, but | ||||||
9 | the historic Quinn Chapel AME Church was her church
home for | ||||||
10 | over 50 years; she was the co-director and a teacher at Crest
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11 | Modeling/Talent Agency for 4 years and was a certified teacher | ||||||
12 | of Speech, Drama,
and English and a high school counselor at | ||||||
13 | Englewood High School; she served as
coordinator of Human | ||||||
14 | Relations, Instructional Services, and as an Administrator in
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15 | Districts 27 and 19 for the Chicago Board of Education; and
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16 | WHEREAS, Dr. Davis designed and
coordinated numerous | ||||||
17 | programs for her school districts, including the Communication | ||||||
18 | Arts
Festival involving Chicago Public School students | ||||||
19 | competing in oral
interpretation, public speaking and drama, | ||||||
20 | the Deb Tea for Talent - a talent
competition in the district | ||||||
21 | elementary schools, the Great Debates-skill
building/thinking | ||||||
22 | for high school students, Spellarama - a Spelling Bee conducted
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23 | for elementary school students, the Academic Showdown - a |
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1 | knowledge-based contest
similar to Jeopardy, and an annual | ||||||
2 | essay contest for Chicago elementary and high
school students; | ||||||
3 | these creations became extremely successful under her tutelage | ||||||
4 | and some
developed into city-wide activities and contests open | ||||||
5 | to all Chicago Public School
students; and
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6 | WHEREAS, Dr. Davis was also a private drama coach for | ||||||
7 | students and adults wishing to improve
their public speaking | ||||||
8 | skills for competition or career enhancement; she was the
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9 | designer, writer, and teacher of the course for Chicago | ||||||
10 | teachers in speech, drama,
music, dance, reading, and classroom | ||||||
11 | management; she as a poet and the
author of "Carrie's Vignette" - | ||||||
12 | a newsletter and she co-authored the "Drama Curriculum Guide" | ||||||
13 | for the high schools of Chicago and the Proficiency Skills | ||||||
14 | Course-Language
Arts Portion for the Chicago Board of | ||||||
15 | Education; she was the Executive Producer, co-host, and
script | ||||||
16 | writer for FOCUS ON YOUTH, a WLNR radio show; the City of | ||||||
17 | Chicago Board of Education
awarded her Outstanding Drama | ||||||
18 | Director and Teacher of the Year; after retiring
from the | ||||||
19 | Chicago Board of Education, she returned as an educational
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20 | consultant on the Probation Team for Troubled Schools; and
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21 | WHEREAS, Dr. Davis continuously reached out to make this | ||||||
22 | world a better place with her civic
activities; she served as | ||||||
23 | Chairman of United Charities Calumet Family Center
Advisory | ||||||
24 | Committee, as President of the Roseland Community Hospital |
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1 | Auxiliary,
as Committee Chairperson for Afro-American Family | ||||||
2 | and Community Services
Development, as member of the White | ||||||
3 | House Conference for Youth, as member of the
Good Citizenship | ||||||
4 | Club, as board member of the Altgeld Urban Program Center,
as | ||||||
5 | board member of the Boys and Girls Clubs of America, and was a | ||||||
6 | delegate for the
General Conference of the AME Church and Quinn | ||||||
7 | Chapel; and
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8 | WHEREAS, Dr. Davis was a Legendary Soror and Leader of | ||||||
9 | Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority,
Incorporated; she chartered the Alpha | ||||||
10 | Chi Chapter at the University of
Arkansas at Pine Bluff in | ||||||
11 | 1948, served as Basileus of Delta Sigma Chapter in
Chicago, was | ||||||
12 | Central Region Campus Coordinator, served as the 11th Central
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13 | Region Syntaktes from 1974 to 1978, was elected Grand | ||||||
14 | Epistoleus from 1980 to 1984,
was a National Board Member, Dean | ||||||
15 | of Pledgees, and Chairperson of the following
committees: | ||||||
16 | Debutante Tea, Miss Black Teenage Pageant, National | ||||||
17 | Scholarship,
Regional Scholarship and Nominating Committee; | ||||||
18 | her public speaking
passion was further realized through the | ||||||
19 | Kaleidoscope of the Arts - a talent search
involving Sigma | ||||||
20 | Gamma Rho Sorority's high school Rhoers and college Sigma
women | ||||||
21 | competing for trophies in speech, drama, and dance; as Grand | ||||||
22 | Epistoleus,
she authored IN TOUCH, a newsletter to all Sorors | ||||||
23 | and WRITE ON, a publication
containing Media Hints for | ||||||
24 | Epistolei; her originated the "Mother-Daughter
Gallery" which | ||||||
25 | spotlighted daughters who followed their mother's legacy into
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1 | Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority; she was a founding member of Eta Xi | ||||||
2 | Sigma
Chapter in Oak Lawn; devotion to Sigma is a family affair | ||||||
3 | as her's
sister Vivian and all 3 of her daughters are members | ||||||
4 | of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Incorporated; and
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5 | WHEREAS, On November 18, 1978, Dr. Davis journeyed with | ||||||
6 | others to Chicago to help charter the second chapter of the | ||||||
7 | National Women of Achievement, Incorporated (NWOA); she became | ||||||
8 | the first
President of the Chicago Chapter; under her | ||||||
9 | leadership, membership increased
from 5 to 35, in a relatively | ||||||
10 | short time; she worked tirelessly to
continue the promulgation | ||||||
11 | of progress for growth of the organization; she initiated the | ||||||
12 | NWOA Pageant that focuses on outstanding Achievers,
organized | ||||||
13 | the "GEMS", a youth group later named Youth Achievers, and
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14 | organized the oratorical contest for youth; in 1985, she became | ||||||
15 | the
Second National President of NWOA; the numbers of chapters | ||||||
16 | of NWOA more
than doubled under her leadership; she enhanced | ||||||
17 | the financial
status of the national coffers through contests | ||||||
18 | among chapters, focusing on the
outstanding Presidents; her | ||||||
19 | innovations were youth competitions in debates, public | ||||||
20 | speaking, and
oral interpretation; young ladies and men won | ||||||
21 | financial rewards for outstanding
performances; leadership | ||||||
22 | seminars were devised for officers and members of
local | ||||||
23 | chapters and thousands of dollars were given to worthy students | ||||||
24 | as grants and
scholarship to provide avenues for further study; | ||||||
25 | numerous achievers and
community leaders were given awards |
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1 | through the Profiles of Prominence
Ceremony each year; she | ||||||
2 | designed a replica of NWOA'S gem stone
into a beautiful award | ||||||
3 | for these recipients; additionally, she established the
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4 | Achiever Carrie Filer Davis Award to be presented to the | ||||||
5 | Regional Director who
had excelled during the 2 year period | ||||||
6 | leading up to CON WOA, the National
Convention; and
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7 | WHEREAS, Dr. Davis's numerous honors and recognitions | ||||||
8 | include: being honored by Arkansas Governor Bill Clinton in | ||||||
9 | Recognition for Distinguished Accomplishments and Excellence | ||||||
10 | in Education; the Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. 80th | ||||||
11 | Anniversary Pearl Award; the United Charities 20 Years of | ||||||
12 | Service Award; Mayor Daley's City of Chicago Senior Citizen | ||||||
13 | Hall of Fame; the National Women of Achievement, Inc. Hall of | ||||||
14 | Fame Award; National Women of Achievement, Inc.-Youth Activity | ||||||
15 | of the Year; Outstanding Service to Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, | ||||||
16 | Inc. Delta Sigma; Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc.-Bicentennial | ||||||
17 | Festival; the Roseland Community Hospital Community Award; the | ||||||
18 | En Verite Progressive Charity Club-Progressive Black Women's | ||||||
19 | Award; the National Women of Achievement, Inc.-"The Diamond | ||||||
20 | Award"; the National Award for Outstanding Dramatic | ||||||
21 | Contribution to the Field of
Speech and Drama-the Vivian Tate | ||||||
22 | Hegwood Award; Altgeld CSC Advisory Council Award for | ||||||
23 | Outstanding and Dedicated Service; University of Sarasota Hall | ||||||
24 | of Fame Award; the Roseland Community Hospital Commitment to | ||||||
25 | Volunteerism Award; the Project Reassurance Award; the Sigma |
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1 | Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. Psi Sigma Chapter-Community | ||||||
2 | Service/Founder's Day Award; the Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. | ||||||
3 | Gamma Pi Sigma-Recognition of Support Award; the National Women | ||||||
4 | of Achievement, Inc.-Second Annual Profiles of Prominence | ||||||
5 | Award; Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. Eta Xi Sigma-In | ||||||
6 | Appreciation of Dedicated Service, Leadership, and Commitment; | ||||||
7 | the Moton Hall of Fame Award; the Lamplighters Club of Greater | ||||||
8 | Institutional A.M.E. Church-Outstanding Qualities of Humility, | ||||||
9 | Loyalty, Spiritual Dedication,
High Academic Pursuits, and | ||||||
10 | Unselfish Devotion; Calumet Advisory Committee-Sincere | ||||||
11 | Appreciation for Years of
Service and Many Contributions; Sigma | ||||||
12 | Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. Rho Sigma Chapter's Founders' Day
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13 | Luncheon-Outstanding and Dedicated Service to the Sorority and | ||||||
14 | to the
Community; Who's Who in Black America; Sigma Gamma Rho | ||||||
15 | Sorority, Inc. Delta Sigma Chapter-In Appreciation for
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16 | Dedication and Services to the Central Region as Regional | ||||||
17 | Syntaktes; Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. Delta Sigma | ||||||
18 | Chapter-In Appreciation for
Dedicated Service as Basileus; the | ||||||
19 | Humanitarian Award in Education for the establishment of a | ||||||
20 | school in
honor of her mother, Vera Burchett Filer, an educator | ||||||
21 | for over 35 Years; the Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. Delta | ||||||
22 | Sigma Chapter-Black History
Month Recognition Award; Service | ||||||
23 | to Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc.; Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, | ||||||
24 | Inc. Eta Xi Sigma Chapter Basileus Thweatt-Pippion
Thank You | ||||||
25 | for Special Efforts and Continued Support; the University of | ||||||
26 | Sarasota Campus Dedication Award; National Women of |
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1 | Achievement, Inc. Houston Cluster Chapters In
Appreciation for | ||||||
2 | Dedicated and Loyal Service,
Seventh Anniversary CON-WOA; the | ||||||
3 | Chicago Public Schools Local School Council Inaugural Award; | ||||||
4 | National Women of Achievement, Inc.-In Appreciation for | ||||||
5 | Service as
Midwest Regional Director; LeMoyne-Owen College | ||||||
6 | Alumni Association, Chicago Chapter In
Grateful Appreciation; | ||||||
7 | National Women of Achievement, Inc. First National President's | ||||||
8 | Award-In
Recognition of Outstanding Achievement in Education, | ||||||
9 | Speech Arts, and
Community Service; the UNCF School | ||||||
10 | Campaign-Recognition Award for Outstanding Service; the Sigma | ||||||
11 | Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. Hall of Fame Award; Sub-District 9 | ||||||
12 | Council-In Recognition of Excellence as Parliamentarian; | ||||||
13 | National Women of Achievement, Inc.-Life Member Award; the | ||||||
14 | National Woman of Achievement, Inc. Chicago | ||||||
15 | Chapter-Outstanding
Service Award; the Outstanding Service to | ||||||
16 | the Community-Human Services Award; the National Women of | ||||||
17 | Achievement, Inc. Manderline Scales Scholarship
Award, 17th | ||||||
18 | Biennial CON-WOA; the Outstanding Administrator Award from the | ||||||
19 | State of Illinois for Those Who
Excel in Administration; | ||||||
20 | National Women of Achievement, Inc. 10th Biennial CON-WOA-In
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21 | Appreciation of Outstanding Service; the National Women of | ||||||
22 | Achievement, Inc. Chicago Chapter-Wind Beneath Our
Wings | ||||||
23 | Achiever Award; and the National Women of Achievement, Inc. | ||||||
24 | 13th Biennial CON-WOA Coordinators
Award; and
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25 | WHEREAS, Dr. Davis was preceded in death by her parents; |
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1 | her sister, Bessie Filer Edwards; her
sister, Gayle Filer | ||||||
2 | Manley; and her brother, Macy
Dean Filer; and
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3 | WHEREAS, Dr. Davis is survived by her daughters, Norma | ||||||
4 | Louise Ellis Olya Bush, Helen Davis Gardner, M.D., and Gina | ||||||
5 | Renee Davis, Esq.;
her sister, Vivian Filer Branton; her | ||||||
6 | sister-in-law, Blondell Burson Filer;
her grandchildren, | ||||||
7 | Taurin Ellis Penn (Corey), Walter Forrest Bush, IV (Sandy),
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8 | Tiffany Latrice Renea Ellis, Kossie Gardner III, and Najee | ||||||
9 | Squire Gino Olya;
her great-grandchildren, Sarah Penn-Cox, | ||||||
10 | Sydney Penn, and Javion and Asia
Bush; her | ||||||
11 | great-great-grandchildren, London Marie and Paris Simone Cox;
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12 | her very special niece, Tamera Thompson Fair; her children in | ||||||
13 | her heart, Art Norman,
JoAnne Hawkins White, Lynn A. Norment, | ||||||
14 | Donald K. Johnson, and Deborah A.
Rountree; her nieces and | ||||||
15 | nephews around the country; Sorors; Achievers; former
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16 | students; and friends all over the world; therefore, be it
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17 | RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE | ||||||
18 | NINETY-NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we | ||||||
19 | mourn the passing of Dr. Carrie Louise Filer Ellis Davis, and | ||||||
20 | extend our sincere condolences to her family, friends, and all | ||||||
21 | who knew and loved her; and be it further
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22 | RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be | ||||||
23 | presented to the family of Dr. Davis as an expression of our |
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1 | deepest sympathy.
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