MEMORIAL RESOLUTION HONORING THE LIFE OF JAMES L. McGHEE, SR.
WHEREAS, James L. McGhee, Sr., loving husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, and longtime resident of the Lawndale community, peacefully departed this life on June 7, 2021, at the age of 83, surrounded by family; and
WHEREAS, The Chicago City Council has been informed of James' passing by the Honorable Michael D. Rodriguez, Alderman of the 22nd Ward; and
WHEREAS, James was born on August 14, 1937, in Brookport, Illinois, to his parents, Willie and Margaret Eleanor Dawson McGhee; and
WHEREAS, James attended Brookport High School, where he earned the title of Salutatorian of his 1955 graduating class; he enjoyed sports, and played center field on the school's baseball team; and
WHEREAS, James received a partial scholarship to attend Southern Illinois University, but lacked the funds to attend college; he did not want to be a farmer, and decided instead to go Chicago to join three of his brothers in the workforce; and
WHEREAS, James'first job in the City was at the Palmer House Hotel; later on, James went to work at United States Rubber Company, which later became Uniroyal, Inc., where he worked in the Quality Control Department for many years, before enjoying an early retirement as General Manager of Uniroyal's Chicago facility; he later came out of retirement and did a brief stint at the American Cyanimid Company (Lederle Laboratories), before joining Lurie Security Services, where he held the role of Security and Surveillance Manager until his retirement; and
WHEREAS, A devoted husband, James was married to his wife, Doris Jean, for 57 years, until she preceded him in death in 2014; and
WHEREAS, A 63-year resident of the Lawndale community, James spent 45 of those years on his beloved 2300 block of South Lawndale Avenue; he loved sitting on his front porch, playing the lottery, attending the McEwen-Dawson family reunions, and watching baseball, basketball, and old westerns; he also enjoyed eating his favorite candy bar: Baby Ruth; and
WHEREAS, James is preceded in death by his: wife, Doris Jean; brothers, Dawes B., Thomas L.C., Bob Vernon, Johnny Edward, Harold Rudolph, Jaymond Albert (Gudrun), Clarence Hiawatha, and Jesse Arbe (his twin); and his sister, Willa Mae; and
WHEREAS, James is survived by his sons, James, Jr, Eric, Robert (Tracey), and Michael; his daughters, Linda, Beverly (Gary), Karen (late Marc), Lori, and Carol (Kevin); a sister, Vivian Geneva (Memphis, TN); a brother, Hester Ray (Flora) (Chicago, IL); 14 grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; and a host of other relatives and friends; now, therefore
BE IT RESOLVED, That we, the Mayor and members of the City Council of the City of Chicago, gathered here this twenty-third day of June, 2021, do hereby extend our most heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of James L. McGhee, Sr.; and
MICHAEL D. RODRIGUEZ Alderman, 22nd Ward
BE IT FURTHERRESOLVED.Thata suitable copy of this resolution be prepared and presented to the family of James L. McGhee, Sr. as a sign of our honor and respect.