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1 SENATE RESOLUTION
2 WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened
3 to learn of the death of Ada Louise Johnson-Rogers of
4 Springfield, who passed away on December 11, 2024; and
5 WHEREAS, Ada Johnson-Rogers was born to Richard William
6 Johnson and Blanche Mae Lue-Johnson in Springfield on May 24,
7 1937; she committed to her faith at an early age at Pleasant
8 Grove Baptist Church in Springfield, where she sang in the
9 children's choir; she attended Garfield High School and Mexico
10 High School, both in Mexico, Missouri, and she furthered her
11 education at Lincoln University in Jefferson City, Missouri;
12 and
13 WHEREAS, Ada Johnson-Rogers worked as a revenue collector
14 for the Internal Revenue Service for several years until her
15 retirement; and
16 WHEREAS, Ada Johnson-Rogers was a talented musician, and
17 she sang in choirs during her school and college years and
18 played the piano, clarinet, saxophone, violin, and organ; in
19 1987, she met her life partner and fellow musician, John T.
20 Crisp Jr., and they began their musical journey of traveling
21 the country while performing with her band, Chahrm with Ada
22 Lou; she performed at The East Side Jazz Festival, Music in the
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1 Park, Robbie's Restaurant, Lincoln Land Community College, Dim
2 Art House, fundraisers, and family reunions; over the course
3 of her career, she worked with a number of talented artists,
4 including Bobby Rush, Bobby King, Preston Jackson, Cecil
5 Bridgewater, Candy Foster, Joe Boyce, The Crisp Sisters, and
6 Big Time Sarah, and she became a local legend in her own right;
7 and
8 WHEREAS, Ada Johnson-Rogers was a member of the Asbury
9 United Methodist Church of Springfield, where she supported a
10 number of youth programs; she also volunteered at the Tubman
11 Anthony Self-Help Center and organized youth choirs on the
12 east side of Springfield; and
13 WHEREAS, Ada Johnson-Rogers was known the "purple lady"
14 for her love of the color; she was usually seen wearing
15 something purple and even painted her house purple; she was
16 honest and caring to all; and
17 WHEREAS, Ada Johnson-Rogers was preceded in death by her
18 parents; and
19 WHEREAS, Ada Johnson-Rogers is survived by her sister,
20 Patricia Ann Carpenter; her life partner, John T. Crisp Jr.;
21 two stepsons; her niece, Sheila Louise (Keith)
22 Carpenter-Johnson; her nephews, Vincent Carpenter and Conrade'
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1 D. Carpenter; and a host of cousins, friends, and neighbors;
2 therefore, be it
3 RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED FOURTH GENERAL
4 ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of
5 Ada Louise Johnson-Rogers and extend our sincere condolences
6 to her family, friends, and all who knew and loved her; and be
7 it further
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