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PROPOSED RESOLUTION
HONORING THE LIFE AND MEMORY OF REVEREND WALLACE WYATT SYKES
WHEREAS, Reverend Wallace Wyatt Sykes was born on December 21, 1923 in Starkville, Mississippi; and
WHEREAS, Rev. Sykes moved to Maywood, Illinois in 1943 and joined Second Baptist Church shortly afterward; and
WHEREAS, in 1957, Rev. Sykes entered into ministry studying at the historic Chicago Baptist Institute and obtained postgraduate degrees from Northeastern Illinois University and the Northern Baptist Theological Seminary in Lombard; and
WHEREAS, in 1961, Rev. Sykes was ordained and became pastor of Second Baptist Church; and
WHEREAS, in 1965, Rev. Sykes was given an honorary doctorate from the board of trustees of the Easonian Baptist Theological Seminary in Birmingham, Atlanta; and
WHEREAS, the Second Baptist Church, one of the oldest in Maywood, grew into one of town’s most prominent institutions under the leadership of Rev. Sykes; and
WHEREAS, as part of Rev. Sykes’ emphasis on education, Second Baptist Church established the Maple Tree Child Learning Center, supported the Hayden Memorial Educational Fund and supported the Pam’s Pennies Educational Fund; and
WHEREAS, Joe Freelon, Maywood’s first African American mayor, was a longtime chairman of Second Baptist Church board and a close friend of Rev. Sykes;
WHEREAS, Venida Perkins, Maywood’s first African-American Village Clerk, served on the mother’s board of Second Baptist Church for many years; and
WHEREAS, Rev. Sykes’ influence was felt beyond the walls of his church and acknowledged on several occasions when the village named a portion of Washington Boulevard in his honor; and
WHEREAS, Rev. Sykes was a kind and compassionate man with a vision, virtuous of character and love for his god, education and Maywood; and
WHEREAS, Reverend Wallace Wyatt Sykes passed away on May 19, 2018; and
WHEREAS, he will be sorely missed by friends, family and colleagues throughout Cook County; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the President and the Cook County Board of Commissioners, on behalf of the residents of Cook County, hereby offer its deepest condolences and most heartfelt sympathy to the family of Reverend Wallace Wyatt Sykes; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that this text be spread upon the official proceedings of this Honorable Body, and a suitable copy of the same be tendered to the family of Reverend Wallace Wyatt Sykes and the Maywood Historical Society so that his memory may be so honored and ever cherished.end