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PROPOSED RESOLUTION
HONORING THE LIFE AND CONTRIBUTIONS OF PASTOR ZOLLIE WEBB
WHEREAS, Pastor Zollie Webb, long-time pastor of Friendship Baptist Church in Evanston, Illinois has died; and
WHEREAS, Pastor Webb was an important religious and community leader in Evanston. In addition to serving as the Pastor of Friendship Baptist Church for 34 years, he also served on the African American Ministerial Alliance, where he forged deep relationships among the forty African American churches in Evanston; and
WHEREAS, Pastor Webb’s death came only days after his church hosted Evanston’s first public meeting on a Restorative Housing program for African American residents or their descendants who were harmed by past discrimination policies implemented by the city of Evanston. This was the first aspect of the City’s local reparations initiative; and
WHEREAS, Pastor Webb was employed by the city of Evanston for 25 years in multiple capacities. He retired from the position of Community Outreach Coordinator in the Department of Parks, Recreation, and Community Services. In 2017, the city of Evanston honored Webb with an honorary street name designation for Foster Street between Hartrey Avenue and Emerson Street; and
WHEREAS, Pastor Webb was deeply committed to improving the lives of young people. He personally served as a foster parent for 54 young men. He served as the National Youth Director of the national Baptist Convention USA; and
WHEREAS, as a leader of Evanston Own It, an organization of Black religious leaders founded in 2015 to foster community and stop violence in the community, Pastor Webb organized and developed the Evanston Sings gospel music concert that takes place at Evanston Township High School year. The funds raised by this concert are donated annually to help support the Mayor’s Summer Youth Employment program. As of 2019, the annual concerts had raised more than $35,000; and
WHEREAS, Pastor Webb was no stranger to loss himself. Gun violence hit close to home when his great nephew was fatally shot at a Red Line station. The heartache was particularly acute given Pastor Webb’s history of working tirelessly for years to prevent exactly this tragedy from happening to young men from Chicago and Evanston; and
WHEREAS, Pastor Webb will be sorely missed not only by his family, church family and the people who loved him and by the many families and individuals he helped behind the scenes, never seeking self-promotion or adulation; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, , that the Board of Commissioners of Cook County, on behalf of the 5.2 million residents of Cook County, honors the work and contributions of the Pastor Zollie Webb, and herewith expresses its sincere gratitude for the invaluable contributions he made to the Citizens of Cook County, Illinois; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a suitable copy of this Resolution be spread upon the official proceedings of this Honorable Body and that an official copy of same be tendered to the family of the Pastor Zollie Webb.
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