Bill Text: IL SR0774 | 2017-2018 | 100th General Assembly | Introduced
Bill Title: Mourns the death of Barbara Boutte.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Passed) 2017-08-13 - Resolution Adopted [SR0774 Detail]
Download: Illinois-2017-SR0774-Introduced.html
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1 | SENATE RESOLUTION
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2 | WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to | ||||||
3 | learn of the death of Barbara Theresa "BeBe" Boutte, who passed | ||||||
4 | away on July 17, 2017; and
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5 | WHEREAS, Barbara Boutte was born in Alexandria, Louisiana | ||||||
6 | to Murrell and Blanche Evangeline Toussaint Gonzaque on August | ||||||
7 | 5, 1930; she attended elementary school in New Orleans and | ||||||
8 | Alexandria and high school in Opelousas; she earned a degree in | ||||||
9 | music education from Xavier University (XULA), where she sang | ||||||
10 | in operas and performed nationally in the choir; she married | ||||||
11 | Alvin Boutte during her senior year; and
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12 | WHEREAS, Barbara Boutte began teaching at St. James | ||||||
13 | Catholic High School in Alexandria when her husband was away at | ||||||
14 | Officers Training School with the United States Army; they | ||||||
15 | spent time stationed in California and Kansas; and
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16 | WHEREAS, After arriving in Chicago, Barbara Boutte and her | ||||||
17 | husband launched their successful drug store chain, | ||||||
18 | Independent Drug Stores, Inc.; she was a strong supporter of | ||||||
19 | her husband as he moved from the drug store business and became | ||||||
20 | president and CEO of Independence Bank; and
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21 | WHEREAS, Barbara Boutte and her husband were ardent |
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1 | supporters of Chicago community and cultural organizations and | ||||||
2 | especially the civil rights movement; they often hosted | ||||||
3 | meetings at their home with civil rights and civic leaders; one | ||||||
4 | of her final public outings was the dedication of the Rev. Dr. | ||||||
5 | Martin Luther King Jr. Living Memorial in Marquette Park; and
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6 | WHEREAS, Barbara Boutte was a member of St. Dorothy Parish | ||||||
7 | and then St. Clotilde Parish; she served on the
school board, | ||||||
8 | the leadership committee, the Women's Club, and chaired several | ||||||
9 | church
fundraisers; she sang in the choir, playing both the | ||||||
10 | organ and piano for Mass, and
performed at other church | ||||||
11 | functions; for years, she served on the National Committee
for | ||||||
12 | the Sainthood of now St. Katherine Drexel, the matriarch of | ||||||
13 | Xavier University of
Louisiana; and
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14 | WHEREAS, Barbara Boutte held leadership
roles in the | ||||||
15 | Pharmacist's Women's Auxiliary, Chicago
State University | ||||||
16 | TAGgers, the March of Dimes, Good Samaritans,
the Provident | ||||||
17 | Women's Auxiliary of Provident Hospital of Cook County, the | ||||||
18 | Kennedy-King
Choir, the Proscenium Players, the United Negro | ||||||
19 | College Fund's Women's Division,
the American Association of | ||||||
20 | University Women, the Lyric
Opera-Bravo Chapter, the XULA | ||||||
21 | Alumni Association, the Holy Ghost Catholic School Alumni
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22 | Association, and the Chicago Federation of Musicians; she was | ||||||
23 | instrumental in
raising funds to build the new Provident | ||||||
24 | Hospital, the
53rd Street YMCA, and she worked tirelessly |
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1 | year-round to ensure the success of the
United Negro College | ||||||
2 | Fund's Annual Ebony Fashion Show; and
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3 | WHEREAS, Barbara Boutte was affectionately known as | ||||||
4 | "Mother Too" and "Grand MaMa" to many; she was a phenomenal | ||||||
5 | bridge player and belonged to several clubs for almost 60
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6 | years: Queen of Diamonds, Tally-Up, Chi Burbs, Grand Slam | ||||||
7 | Ma'ams, the 87th Street Bridge
Club, and several others; she | ||||||
8 | enjoyed hosting an annual New Year's
soiree, a Halloween gala, | ||||||
9 | bridge parties, and political
fundraisers; and
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10 | WHEREAS, Barbara Boutte was known for
her style, beauty, | ||||||
11 | talent, and caring heart; she was also known for her red beans | ||||||
12 | and rice, smothered okra, jambalaya, and
gumbo; her recipes | ||||||
13 | were so acclaimed that they were
published in The Chicago | ||||||
14 | Defender and praised by all who were
lucky enough to partake, | ||||||
15 | including Rev. Dr. Martin
Luther King Jr., the members of the | ||||||
16 | Southern Christian Leadership Conference, Operation
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17 | Breadbasket, Operation PUSH, the Young Democrats,
and many | ||||||
18 | others; and
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19 | WHEREAS, Barbara Boutte is survived by her children, Janice | ||||||
20 | Boutte, Jeanette
(Floyd) Simpson, Gregory Boutte, and Alvin | ||||||
21 | Jr.; her grandchildren,
Dennis, Gregory (Rachel), Phillip | ||||||
22 | (Shay), Floyd III, Patrice,
Crystal, and Sherida; her | ||||||
23 | great-grandchildren, Darius, Lauren,
Dennis, Denise, and |
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1 | Phillip III; her sister-in-law, Irma (Murrell Louis)
Hayes | ||||||
2 | Gonzaque; numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and
friends; and | ||||||
3 | her special and devoted friends known as "BeBe's Kids"; | ||||||
4 | therefore, be it
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5 | RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDREDTH GENERAL | ||||||
6 | ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of | ||||||
7 | Barbara Theresa "BeBe" Boutte, and extend our sincere | ||||||
8 | condolences to her family, friends, and all who knew and loved | ||||||
9 | her; and be it further
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10 | RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be | ||||||
11 | presented to the family of Barbara Boutte as an expression of | ||||||
12 | our deepest sympathy.
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