MEMORIAL RESOLUTION FOR JAMES FRANKLIN
WHEREAS, It is with great sadness that the members of this Chamber learned of the death of James Franklin on August 16, 2017; and
WHEREAS, The Chicago City Council has been informed of his passing by the Honorable Anthony A. Beale, Alderman of the 9th Ward; and
WHEREAS, James was born on March 4, 1936, to the late William Sr. and Annie Bell Robertson. He was the 2nd of 5 siblings, who have preceded him in death; and
WHEREAS, James attended Catholic Elementary School in Mississippi, and his family later relocated to the Chicago area when he was 9 years old. He attended Betsy Ross Elementary School and he graduated from Chicago Vocational High School in 1954. After graduation, James was drafted into the U.S. Army and later honorably discharged; and
WHEREAS, James went on to work at the Cook County Mental Health Center as an attendant from 1962 to 1968. There he met the love of his life, Bernice Bester. The couple was married on November 19, 1966, to their union one child was born and another was inherited; and
WHEREAS, In1968, James began working for the U.S. Postal Service as a tractor-trailer operator until his retirement in 2000; and
WHEREAS, James accepted Christ and joined Mt. Joy Missionary Baptist Church in 1967, under the leadership of the late Rev. Ivory Scott. He later joined Sweet Holy Spirit Church in 1986, under the leadership of Bishop Larry Trotter. James was a faithful member of the church, serving as a Trustee and an Usher; and
WHEREAS, James loved jazz music and had a renowned record collection. He also loved sports, barbequing, and traveling to Hawaii; and
WHEREAS, James was an active member of his community, serving as President of the 106th & Indiana Street Block Club for over forty years, and took pride in his manicured lawn and maintaining his home. He is remembered as an extraordinary husband and a loving father, grandfather and great-grandfather; and
WHEREAS, James leaves to cherish his memory ...
Click here for full text