HR0341LRB103 32650 LAW 62348 r HR0341 LRB103 32650 LAW 62348 r
HR0341 LRB103 32650 LAW 62348 r
1 HOUSE RESOLUTION
2 WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of
3 Representatives wish to congratulate MajorBelle (Brown) James
4 on the occasion of her 100th birthday on May 17, 2023; and
5 WHEREAS, MajorBelle James was born to Dock and Rosa Brown
6 in Belzoni, Mississippi on May 17, 1923; she was the only
7 daughter of five siblings, including Hosea, William, Earl, and
8 Alfred; and
9 WHEREAS, MajorBelle James attended Forestville and Willard
10 grammar schools, and she graduated 8th grade from Willard; she
11 graduated from DuSable High School in 1941; and
12 WHEREAS, MajorBelle James married John Velry James on May
13 3, 1943; they had one child, Rochelle James, who was born on
14 October 31, 1943; they enjoyed 49 years of marriage until his
15 passing on August 30, 1992; and
16 WHEREAS, For 41 years, MajorBelle James was employed at
17 Curtis Candy, known today as Nabisco, from 1947 until she
18 retired in 1988; and
19 WHEREAS, MajorBelle James attended and was baptized at
20 both Ebenezer Missionary Baptist Church and Corpus Christi
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1 Catholic Church, becoming a member of Corpus Christi Catholic
2 Church at 15 years old; she formerly attended St. Ambrose
3 Catholic Church and now attends St. Josephine Bakhita Parish;
4 she was a member of The Knights of Peter Claver Ladies
5 Auxiliary; and
6 WHEREAS, MajorBelle James has enjoyed cooking, especially
7 baking cakes, and dancing; her hobbies have included
8 videography, photography, and astrology; and
9 WHEREAS, MajorBelle James is the aunt of well-known singer
10 Donny Hathaway, the son of her oldest brother, Hosea; and
11 WHEREAS, MajorBelle James is the grandmother of four, with
12 one preceding her in death; the great-grandmother of 10, with
13 one preceding her in death; the great-great-grandmother of 10;
14 and the great-great-great grandmother of one; therefore, be it
15 RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE
16 HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
17 we congratulate MajorBelle (Brown) James on celebrating her
18 100th birthday; and be it further
19 RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
20 presented to MajorBelle James as an expression of our esteem
21 and respect.
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