title
PROPOSED RESOLUTION
A RESOLUTION HONORING ROSELLA PERRY SMITH
WHEREAS, Rosella Perry Smith was born on September 19, 1935 to the late Maddie and Edward Perry; and
WHEREAS, Edward her father never saw Rosella because he was gravely ill and in isolation when she was an infant; and
WHEREAS, Rosella and her brother Ervin (Maurice) and sister Margaret grew up in the Ida B. Wells housing project on the
South-side of Chicago; and
WHEREAS, Rosella has fond memories of the community center in the neighborhood where her and the family attended; and
WHEREAS, it was at the community center that her and her friends made stage outfits for a group that Herb Kent "The
Cook Gent" had discovered; and
WHEREAS, in 1953 Rosella graduated from Wendell Phillips High School and is a graduate of the Chicago Teacher's College
which is known as Chicago State University; and
WHEREAS, in 1960, Rosella married another Wendell Phillips High School Alumnus, James O. Smith. Through that union three children was born; Jamella, Jarel and James known as (Casey) one grand-daughter Kendall; and
WHEREAS, Rosella and her family frequently dined at the finest restaurants, went to many plays, traveled all over the United States and cruises to the Caribbean; and
WHEREAS, Rosella taught in the Chicago Public School system for thirty- seven years. She started teaching at Doolittle Elementary School but spent the majority of her career at Avalon Park Elementary; and
WHEREAS, throughout Rosella's career she received many recognitions including The Golden Apple Award; and
WHEREAS, other activities have included; Sunday School Teacher, Youth and Choir Director at Metropolitan Community
Church (now known as Apostolic Community Church); and
WHEREAS, after retiring from teaching Rosella did not slow down at all. She volunteers with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra,
Dusable Museum of African American History and a Docent at the Art Institute of Chicago;...
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