Bill Text: IL SR0834 | 2025-2026 | 104th General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Mourns the death of Willie Mae (Frazier) Hemphill.

Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1)

Status: (Passed) 2026-06-01 - Resolution Adopted [SR0834 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2025-SR0834-Introduced.html

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SR0834 LRB104 13068 MST 25002 r
SENATE RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened
to learn of the death of Willie Mae (Frazier) Hemphill, who
passed away on March 25, 2025; and
WHEREAS, Willie Hemphill was born in Little Rock, Arkansas
to Fred and Ethel Lee Frazier on October 4, 1942, the sixth of
15 siblings; she attended Hayti Central School in Hayti,
Missouri; she married James "Teddy" Hemphill in 1961, becoming
stepmother to his sons, Anthony and Derrick, and eventually
mother to Carlos, Sedrick, and Timothy; and
WHEREAS, Willie Hemphill's family moved to Chicago, where
she managed several restaurants; she returned to Little Rock
after her sons graduated from high school and pursued a career
in the medical field, where she worked as a lab technician and
phlebotomist; she also worked as a substitute teacher for the
Little Rock School District and eventually retired from the
State of Arkansas; and
WHEREAS, Willie Hemphill had a passion for service and
served as assistant caretaker for Daisy Bates, the prominent
activist and leader of the Little Rock Nine, who played a
pivotal role in ending school segregation; and

SR0834 - 2 - LRB104 13068 MST 25002 r
WHEREAS, Willie Hemphill was affectionately known as
Willie Mae, Willie, or Mae; she was a member of St. John's
Missionary Baptist Church in Little Rock and then Fellowship
Missionary Baptist Church in Chicago; and
WHEREAS, Willie Hemphill returned to Chicago and
volunteered with the Community Table until October 2025;
therefore, be it
RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED FOURTH GENERAL
ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of
Willie Mae (Frazier) Hemphill and extend our sincere
condolences to her family, friends, and all who knew and loved
her; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
presented to the family of Willie Hemphill as an expression of
our deepest sympathy.