RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, Almighty God, in His infinite wisdom, called Joe-Ella Williams from this life to her eternal reward on February 28, 2015, at the age of 88; and
WHEREAS, Joe-Ella Williams was a neighborhood treasure who devoted her life to improving the lives of all residents of Chicago's West Side; and
WHEREAS, the City Council has been advised of Mrs. Williams' passing by the Honorable Michael Chandler, Alderman of the 24th Ward; and
WHEREAS, Joe-Ella was born in Spring Hill, Mississippi, the first of six children born to Vontee Townsend and Oakland Hobbs; and
WHEREAS, in 1948 she was united in holy matrimony to Mason Williams, and their union was blessed with the birth of three children: James Otis, Ernestine and Jereline; and
WHEREAS, widowed at the age of 39, Joe-Ella dedicated her life not simply to raising her children, but to making sure that their community would thrive; and
WHEREAS, toward that end, Joe-Ella became involved in causes that affected the quality of life of her family and her neighbors. Among these were the Contract Buyers League, seeking to end real estate abuses in the North Lawndale Community, and ACORN; and
WHEREAS, on a smaller scale, but with direct impact on many families, Joe-Ella organized annual Back to School block club parties for local children, and would distribute school supplies to make sure that all the children started the school year with everything they needed; and
WHEREAS, among her other neighborhood improvement activities was gardening. She loved working in her own garden, and greatly appreciated the compliments and accolades it earned; and
WHEREAS, in recognition of her service in her community, Joe-Ella was an honored inductee in the Mayor's Senior Hall of Fame; and
WHEREAS, Joe-Ella is survived by her daughters, Ernestine and Jereline; her daughter-in-law Carmen; two grandchildren, Sheryce and Bryan; nine great-grandchildren; her sister Lela; her brothers, Nathaniel, Tommie Lee and Ernest; many nieces, nephews and friends; and
WHEREAS, although her passing is cause for sorrow, the memory of Joe-Ella Williams will live on in the lives she touched, and she merits permanent recognition for all she has meant to so many people; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED that we, the Mayor and members of the City Council of the City of Chicago, assembled this 18th day of March, 2015, do hereby honor the life and memory of Joe-Ella Williams; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that we join her many loved ones in mourning her passing and offer them our most sincere condolences; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that in recognition of her life and works, her birthday, August 21, shall annually be observed as "Joe-Ella Williams Day in Chicago"; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that suitable copies of this Resolution be presented to the family of Joe-Ella Williams as a sign of our sympathy and kind wishes.
jiJj P. 0Ui^
Michael Chandler Alderman, 24th Ward