08 LC 95
0635
Senate
Resolution 1123
By:
Senator Harbison of the 15th
A
RESOLUTION
Recognizing
and commending Reverend Deacon Jimmie Flewellen; and for other
purposes.
WHEREAS,
Reverend Deacon Jimmie Flewellen's life and spiritual endeavors have been
enriched through his deep conviction, spiritual consciousness, and the joy of
the divine love of God that he possesses; and
WHEREAS,
Reverend Deacon Flewellen is a loving husband to his devoted wife, Isabelle, a
conscientious father to his son, Jimmie, Jr., and has been a faithful deacon at
St. Jude Thaddeus for 34 years; and
WHEREAS,
Reverend Deacon Flewellen was born August 4, 1926, in Columbus, Georgia, to
Nancy and Eddie Flewellen, and was raised by his grandparents Nancy and John
Davis; and
WHEREAS,
he graduated from high school in Columbus, Georgia, was drafted into the United
States Army in 1945, and, upon completing his service, he returned to is old job
in Saginaw, Michigan, and later moved to Chicago, Illinois; and
WHEREAS,
he was baptized into the Roman Catholic Faith in 1960 and was ready to begin his
spiritual journey, describing his passion for St. Thaddeus Church and his
ministry as an indescribable feeling that could only be satisfied by learning
more about his faith; and
WHEREAS,
in 1970, he enrolled in a two-year training program in theology and formation
and took a third year of continuing education, including black history, under
the supervision of the Office of the Permanent Deacon, and in May, 1972, he was
ordained a Permanent Deacon by the Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago and assigned
to St. Jude Thaddeus Catholic Church; and
WHEREAS,
in 1985, the United States Department of Justice appointed Deacon Flewellen the
first Black Catholic prison chaplain, and he served as a prison chaplain from
1985 until 1993 in Springfield, Missouri, and in 1993, he was transferred back
to Chicago to the Metropolitan Correctional Center as the head chaplain;
and
WHEREAS,
Reverend Deacon Flewellen received his Bachelor of Arts and his Master's Degree
in Pastoral Studies in Ministry from Loyola University in Chicago, and was the
first African-American recipient of the President's Degree from Loyola
University; and
WHEREAS,
Reverend Deacon Flewellen believes his St. Thaddeus family has had a huge
influence on his faith, spiritual growth, zeal, and deep conviction to his
ministry.
NOW,
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE that the members of this body join
together to recognize Reverend Deacon Jimmie Flewellen and commend him on his
outstanding ministry to his church, the community, the state, and the
nation.
BE
IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of the Senate is hereby authorized and
directed to transmit an appropriate copy of this resolution to Reverend Deacon
Jimmie Flewellen.