Bill Text: IL HR1022 | 2025-2026 | 104th General Assembly | Introduced
Bill Title: Mourns the passing of Jacqueline Carrie "Jackie" Byas Chappell.
Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2026-08-31 - Filed with the Clerk by Rep. La Shawn K. Ford [HR1022 Detail]
Download: Illinois-2025-HR1022-Introduced.html
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| 1 | HOUSE RESOLUTION | ||||||
| 2 | WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of | ||||||
| 3 | Representatives are saddened to learn of the death of | ||||||
| 4 | Jacqueline Carrie "Jackie" Byas Chappell, who passed away on | ||||||
| 5 | August 17, 2026; and | ||||||
| 6 | WHEREAS, Jacqueline Byas Chappell was the eldest of four | ||||||
| 7 | children born to Arthur William Byas and Johnella Margaret | ||||||
| 8 | Porter on March 16, 1940; her parents instilled in her a | ||||||
| 9 | lifelong passion for education, literature, and | ||||||
| 10 | self-improvement; and | ||||||
| 11 | WHEREAS, Jacqueline Byas Chappell was a trailblazer in | ||||||
| 12 | education, becoming one of the pioneering Black students at | ||||||
| 13 | Hyde Park High School, where she graduated with honors; she | ||||||
| 14 | later earned two master's degrees in education and counseling | ||||||
| 15 | from Loyola University, reflecting her dedication to learning | ||||||
| 16 | and her commitment to empowering others through education; and | ||||||
| 17 | WHEREAS, Jacqueline Byas Chappell devoted over 35 years to | ||||||
| 18 | the Chicago Public Schools, where she served as a teacher, | ||||||
| 19 | counselor, and librarian, making significant impacts on | ||||||
| 20 | countless students, families, and educators; and | ||||||
| 21 | WHEREAS, Upon her retirement from the Chicago Public | ||||||
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| 1 | Schools, Jacqueline Byas Chappell continued her advocacy for | ||||||
| 2 | education by serving as a librarian at the Premier Child Care | ||||||
| 3 | Centers, where she introduced young children to the magic of | ||||||
| 4 | reading and learning, becoming affectionately known as "Miss | ||||||
| 5 | Jackie"; and | ||||||
| 6 | WHEREAS, Jacqueline Byas Chappell was noted for her | ||||||
| 7 | legislative efforts and commitment to educational standards, | ||||||
| 8 | showcasing her unwavering belief in the transformative power | ||||||
| 9 | of education and her conviction that every child deserves | ||||||
| 10 | encouragement to reach their fullest potential; and | ||||||
| 11 | WHEREAS, Throughout her life, Jacqueline Byas Chappell was | ||||||
| 12 | a devout member of St. Dorothy Church and later St. Philip Neri | ||||||
| 13 | Church, where her faith became a source of strength and | ||||||
| 14 | inspiration to others; and | ||||||
| 15 | WHEREAS, Jacqueline Byas Chappell's life was marked by her | ||||||
| 16 | vibrant personality, stylish presence, independent spirit, | ||||||
| 17 | sharp intellect, and enduring sense of humor, values that she | ||||||
| 18 | imparted to her children, Tamera "Tammy", Christopher, Marc, | ||||||
| 19 | and Omoro, who remained among her greatest joys; and | ||||||
| 20 | WHEREAS, Jacqueline Byas Chappell will be remembered for | ||||||
| 21 | her extraordinary contributions to the field of education and | ||||||
| 22 | her unwavering dedication to the empowerment of children and | ||||||
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| 1 | families in Chicago, which will forever resonate within her | ||||||
| 2 | community; therefore, be it | ||||||
| 3 | RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE | ||||||
| 4 | HUNDRED FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that | ||||||
| 5 | we mourn the passing of Jacqueline Carrie "Jackie" Byas | ||||||
| 6 | Chappell and extend our sincere condolences to her family, | ||||||
| 7 | friends, and all who knew and loved her; and be it further | ||||||
| 8 | RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be | ||||||
| 9 | presented to the family of Jacqueline Byas Chappell as an | ||||||
| 10 | expression of our deepest sympathy. | ||||||
