Bill Text: IL HR1522 | 2015-2016 | 99th General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Mourns the death of Rev. Dr. J.C. Smith.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Passed) 2016-12-01 - Resolution Adopted [HR1522 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2015-HR1522-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 Rev. Dr.
J.C. Smith, who passed away on October 12, 2016; and
WHEREAS, Rev. Smith was born in Porters, Alabama to J.C.
Sr. and Eliza (Hampton) Smith on July 8, 1930; and
WHEREAS, Rev. Smith moved to Montgomery, Alabama at the age
of 18 and began working for the Atlas Glass Company; he
enlisted in the United States Army in 1951, where he served two
years during the Korean War and was stationed in Okinawa,
Japan; he returned to Montgomery after the war and married
Willie Mae Myricks on June 3, 1956; and
WHEREAS, Rev. Smith was active in the civil rights movement
of the 1950s and 1960s; he and his wife took part in the
Montgomery Bus Boycott; he was arrested in 1956 for his
participation alongside Ralph Abernathy, Rosa Parks, and
Martin Luther King Jr.; and
WHEREAS, Rev. Smith graduated from Weaver's School of Real
Estate in Montgomery in 1958; from 1958 to 1962 he sold
insurance for the North Carolina Mutual Life Insurance Company,
which was the largest company owned and operated by African

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Americans for most of the 20th century; he owned and operated
Smith's Clothing Store; and
WHEREAS, Rev. Smith moved to Harvey in 1963 near the end of
the Great Migration; he became a licensed real estate salesman
and a journeyman carpenter; he joined Second Baptist Church in
Harvey and delivered his first sermon in November of 1964; he
continued his education and his political and civic
involvement; between 1966 and 1973, he participated in
Operation Breadbasket and was elected to the West Harvey School
District #147 board, where he served for 40 years; he graduated
from CBI with a bachelor's degree in theology; he started
Smith's Carpentry and founded Bethlehem Temple Missionary
Baptist Church; and
WHEREAS, Rev. Smith served as a delegate to the Democratic
National Convention in August of 2000; he served two years as
Vice-President of the National Caucus of Black School Board
Members from 1980 to 1982; and
WHEREAS, From the early 1980s, Rev. Smith was active with
the Progressive National Baptist Convention, where he served as
President of the Moderator's Council from 1992 to 1996; he
served in leadership roles in the Progressive Baptist State
Congress, the South Suburban Minister's Fellowship, and many
other associations; and

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WHEREAS, Over the years, Rev. Smith helped to grow
Bethlehem Temple Missionary Baptist church; he was involved in
every aspect of the church, including the cleaning; in 1995, he
organized the Bethlehem Community Development Corporation,
where he served as Executive Director; and
WHEREAS, Rev. Smith was preceded in death by his parents;
and
WHEREAS, Rev. Smith is survived by his wife of 60 years,
Willie; his brother, Thomas Smith; his children, Jennifer
(Euclid) Strayhorn, Jonathan (Rochelle) Smith, Jeffery
(Heather) Smith, Jerrold (Crystal) Smith, and Jacques (Carly)
Smith; his grandchildren, Cortney Strayhorn, Tenecia
Strayhorn, Justin Strayhorn, Chelsea Strayhorn, Chauncey Sims,
Darrin Sims, Lauren Smith, Brooke Helburn, Rachel Smith, Mariah
Smith, Austin Smith, Amber Smith, Avery Smith, Amaris Smith,
Joslyn Smith, Jarrett Smith, and Caymen J.C. Smith; his
great-grandchildren, Eliya and Emmanuel Strayhorn; and a host
of cousins, nieces, and nephews; therefore, be it
RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
NINETY-NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we
mourn the passing of Rev. Dr. J.C. Smith, and extend our
sincere condolences to his family, friends, and all who knew

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and loved him; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
presented to the family of Rev. Smith as an expression of our
deepest sympathy.