Bill Text: IL SR0894 | 2011-2012 | 97th General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Mourns the death of James M. Bailey Sr.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Passed) 2012-11-29 - Resolution Adopted [SR0894 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2011-SR0894-Introduced.html

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SR0894 LRB097 22520 MST 71284 r
SENATE RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are deeply
saddened to learn of the death of James M. Bailey Sr. of Alton,
who died on August 10, 2012; and
WHEREAS, James Bailey Sr. was born on May 5, 1915, in
Trenton, Gibson County, Tennessee, to James A. and Rachel
Ophelia (Midgett) Bailey; he married Mary Louise Simmons on
October 30, 1938, in Marshall, Missouri; they were married for
73 years and had 2 sons, Dr. James "Jimmy Joe" M. Bailey Jr.
and Judge Duane L. Bailey; and
WHEREAS, James Bailey Sr. graduated from Vashon High School
in St. Louis in June 1935 and was later inducted into their
hall of fame; he graduated from Lincoln University in Jefferson
City, Missouri in 1939, with a bachelor of science degree in
education; he was the first person to pledge the Eta Sigma
Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity at Lincoln University and
was later inducted into their hall of fame and received their
Distinguished Alumni Award; he received a masters of science
degree from the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign in
1948; and
WHEREAS, James Bailey Sr. began his career in education as
a teacher and coach at Garfield High School in Mexico,

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Missouri; he served the Alton school district for 3 years as a
teacher, coach, junior high school assistant principal, junior
high school principal, and administrative supervising
principal of elementary schools; he served 10 years with the
district as the assistant principal of Alton High School and
assistant to the superintendent of schools; and
WHEREAS, In 2006, the library at the new Alton High School
was named the James M. Bailey Library; he was elected to the
city council as the first African-American alderman for the
city of Alton, which he served for 10 years; he was appointed
as Alton's first African-American comptroller, in which
capacity he served for 6 years; and
WHEREAS, James Bailey Sr. was active in many organizations
throughout his lifetime; he was co-founder of the Elijah P.
Lovejoy Memorial, organizer and first chairman of the board of
the Madison County Equal Economic Opportunity Commission,
organizer for the Madison County Headstart Program, and board
member and chairman for the Hayner Public Library Board; he was
a member of the Alton-Wood River chapter of the American Red
Cross, the St. Louis Metro-East Higher Education Coordinating
Council Advisory Committee, East-West Gateway Advisory
Committee, the ad hoc committee to promote legislation to
establish Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville, the ad
hoc committee to organize and promote the referendum to

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establish Lewis and Clark Community College-Godfrey; he was a
past chairman of the Selective Service Board of Appeals of
Southern Illinois and past member of St. Joseph's Hospital
Advisory Committee; and
WHEREAS, James Bailey Sr. was a charter member of the Unity
Fellowship Church and was a former member of Allen Chapel AME
Church, where he served as a trustee and treasurer; he received
many awards for his community service, including the Alton
Human Relations Award, Brotherhood Award, Alton Community
Citizens Award, Lovejoy Human Rights Award, NAACP's
Outstanding Citizen Award, Madison County Urban League Award,
100 Black Men Award, Illinois Association Club Women, Inc. "Man
of the Year" Award, and the Kimmel Leadership Award; and
WHEREAS, James Bailey Sr. was preceded in death by his
parents, James A. and Rachel Ophelia Bailey; his brothers,
Raymond, Gilbert, and Robert Bailey; and his sisters, Gladys
Ellis, Claris Burnett, and Claudine Lewis; and
WHEREAS, James Bailey Sr. is survived by his wife, Mary
Louise; his sons, Dr. James (Michelle) Bailey and Judge Duane
L. (Lois M. Holmes) Bailey; his granddaughters, Tori R. Bailey,
Laruen T. Bailey, and Carmen L. Bailey; his grandson, James M.
Bailey III; his great-granddaughters, Sacha N. Brown and Elona
M. Williams; his brother and sisters-in-law, Jasper Simmons,

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Richard (Sallie) Simmons, and Martha A. Green; and a host of
cousins, nieces, nephews, friends, and a special niece, Nancy
Clark; therefore, be it
RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL
ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of
James Bailey Sr., and we extend our sincere condolences to his
family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it
further
RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
presented to the family of James Bailey Sr. as an expression of
our deepest sympathy.