Rev. Willie A. Treadwell, Pastor Emeritus - 82nd Birthday Celebration Resolution
ADOPTED BY
The City Council of the City of Chicago, Illinois
Presented bv Alderman Emma Mitts on February 13, 2013
WHEREAS, The members of this City Council Chamber were honored to learn of the upcoming eighty-second (82nd) birthday, of the Bishop Willie A. Treadwell, an outstanding minister, community leader and resident of the Austin community in Chicago, by 37th Ward Alderman Emma Mitts. In a few days, he will be celebrating many years of dedicated service as a strong Christian and 'Man of Monumental Faith' who humbly wears his crown of righteousness in the service of GOD and man; and
WHEREAS, Bishop Treadwell was born into existence on February 28, 1931 in Anniston, Alabama to his loving parents, David and Lemmar (Woodgett) Treadwell. Rev. Treadwell was the youngest of three children; both of his siblings are deceased; and
WHEREAS, Bishop Treadwell's family settled on Chicago's west side in 1948, and he graduated from Welles High School. He attended the National College of Chiropractic Medicine; and he further served his country in the United States Army from 1952-1955, where he was honorably discharged under the rank of Sergeant; and
WHEREAS, Bishop Treadwell was employed at Hayton Manufacturing Company for several years, and spent the next ten years of his work life at Sears as a foreman before his retirement in 1973; and
WHEREAS, Bishop Treadwell married the former Frankie [Powell] Treadwell in 1956, and together in they had four (4) children: Apostle Timothy Andrew Treadwell of Chicago, who currently serves as the Pastor of Performing Christ Ministries; X'Avier Myron Treadwell of Chicago; Leslie Dawn
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Washington of Dayton, Ohio; and Joel Paul Treadwell. Bishop Treadwell's family includes sixteen (16) grandchildren and seven (7) great grandchildren; and
WHEREAS, Bishop Treadwell became ordained as a deacon in 1959, and formally entered the ministry in 1968. He was officially installed as a pastor in 1969 and served as the pastor of Union Missionary Baptist Church in Robbins, Illinois, prior to founding United Faith Tabernacle in 1971; and
WHEREAS, Bishop Treadwell operated as a faithful servant of GOD as the Pastor and leading spiritual shepherd of United Faith Tabernacle Church the next three decades, from 1971 - 2003, where he transformed the work and mission of the church into a 'community-based ministry of highly committed activism, faithful stewardship and service; and
WHEREAS, Bishop Treadwell has dedicated his life to the support and aid of low income and underprivileged families in the Greater Metropolitan area of Chicago and surrounding communities. His love for the youth and seniors has been unsurpassed; and
WHEREAS, The former United Faith Tabernacle Church [now known as Performing Christ Ministries] is widely recognized as one of the most active African-American Churches on the west side of Chicago, with years of committed spiritual service to GOD, the city's west side and its loyal congregation; and
WHEREAS, Under Bishop Treadwell's guidance, the Former United Faith Tabernacle Church [now known as Performing Christ Ministries] endeavors to outreach to the community through a diverse array of programs and initiatives, including but not limited to youth employment ministries, community picnics and talent show extravaganzas, Thanksgiving and Christmas food and toy drives; partnerships with the NAACP and other local groups; and
WHEREAS, Bishop Willie A. Treadwell has been active in the Gospel music ministry for many years, starting in 1955 when he helped organize the multiple award-winning Treadwell Community Singers, who performed in
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Chicago and Gary, Indiana throughout the 1950's and 1960's. Further, Bishop Treadwell, capably assisted by his wife Frankie, the 'First Lady' of the Church, shares his musical talent, and is a graduate of the Chicago Music Conservatory. She is an accomplished musician, writer and arranger, who toured with the fabled Thompson Community Singers; and
WHEREAS, Bishop Treadwell's distinguished musical legacy includes appearances on the long-running musical TV show, Jubilee Showcase, as well as the production and performance on several award-winning albums, including 'Love is a Three-Letter Word', 'Heaven In My View', 'What a Friend I have in Jesus' and many others. He was honored as a 'Gospel Living Legend' in 2004 and inducted into the Chicago Announcers Guild Hall of Fame [GMAC] in 2008; and
WHEREAS, this beloved church was organized under the name of United Faith Tabernacle Church, because the term suggested divine inspiration by GOD. Over the years after the retirement of Bishop Treadwell, the name of the church was formally changed to the Performing Christ Ministries, now under the strong leadership of his son, Apostle Timothy A. Treadwell, and this house of worship has continued to flourish to this day; and
WHEREAS, The Honorable Emma Mitts, Alderman of the 37th Ward, has apprised this august body of the significant Eighty-Second birthday milestone achieved by this venerable and highly respected Pastor-Emeritus, Bishop Willie A. Treadwell of Chicago's west side; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED, That we, the Mayor and members of the City of Chicago Council, gathered together this 13th day of February 2013 A.D., do hereby salute the Bishop Willie A. Treadwell on the honored occasion of his 82nd birthday celebration, and thereby further express our very best wishes for continued successful service of this iconic and historic spiritual community leader; and
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IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a suitable copy of this resolution be prepared and presented to the Pastor and congregation of the former United Faith Tabernacle [Now Performing Christ Ministries] with the deep respect and appreciation on behalf of the citizens of the City of Chicago.
Emma Mitts, Alderman - 37th Ward
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