SR0690

LRB094 20052 HSS 57610 r






1

SENATE RESOLUTION


 
2
    WHEREAS, The members of the Senate of the State of Illinois 
3
learned with regret of the death of Mellow Lee Beasley on 
4
Tuesday, March 21, 2006; and

 
5
    WHEREAS, She was born on October 15, 1933, to Willie and 
6
Laura Brown in McGee, Arkansas; she confessed her life in 
7
Christ at an early age; she worked in the hospitality field 
8
until her health began to fail; and

 
9
    WHEREAS, She was an outgoing and outspoken person with a 
10
unique personality; her enduring sense of humor kept everyone 
11
laughing, even at the most embarrassing moments; she had a very 
12
warm and kind heart for others, always giving whatever she 
13
could to help anyone in need; and

 
14
    WHEREAS, Her oldest grandchild, Carmelita, will truly miss 
15
her Granny because she constantly provided the inspiration to 
16
believe, to dream the impossible, to always trust in God, and 
17
to be of good faith; when Carmelita was six years old, Granny 
18
advised her to be good at whatever she chose to do in life, as 
19
long as it was not a singer; Granny Beasley denied that her 
20
first granddaughter was and would always be her favorite 
21
grandchild; and

 
22
    WHEREAS, Granddaughter Janon will always cherish the talks 
23
and secrets she shared with her Granny Beasley; she could 
24
always rely on Granny to express how much she loved her and 
25
count on her grandmother to keep her spirits up during hard 
26
times by saying, "Keep your faith, pray, and never stop 
27
tithing."; and

 
28
    WHEREAS, Granddaughter Senator Kimberly A. Lightford was 
29
always encouraged by her Granny to "just keep living baby, and 
30
ask God to help you" through trials and tribulations; her 
 


 






SR0690
- 2 -
LRB094 20052 HSS 57610 r




1
constant encouragement allowed them to have open discussions 
2
about anything and everything; as a result, Senator Lightford 
3
was inspired to dream and to live her dreams; and

 
4
    WHEREAS, Granny always encouraged her one and only 
5
grandson, Melvin, Jr., who she affectionately called "Booby", 
6
to trust in God and to go to church; and

 
7
    WHEREAS, She was preceded in death by her parents and Mr. 
8
Percy Burnett, affectionately known as "Baby", her loving 
9
companion of more than 20 years; and

 
10
    WHEREAS, The passing of Mellow Lee Beasley has been deeply 
11
felt by many, especially her daughter, Barbara A. (Melvin, Sr.) 
12
Lightford; her grandchildren, Carmelita Lightford (Eric) 
13
Hubbard, Janon (Terry) Porter, Kimberly Lightford, and Melvin 
14
(Myriam) Lightford, Jr.; her great-grandchildren, Kevin, 
15
Karmell, Erica, Tiarra, Sabrina, Aniya, Terri, and Isaiah; her 
16
aunt, Katie Roman; and her many nieces, nephews, cousins, and 
17
friends; therefore, be it

 
18
    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL 
19
ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of 
20
Mellow Lee Beasley, and we extend our sincere condolences to 
21
her family, friends, and all who knew and loved her; and be it 
22
further

 
23
    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
24
presented to her family as an expression of our deepest 
25
sympathy.