Crusader Staff Report
The funeral for Annette Butler, wife of former Cook County Commissioner Jerry Butler, will be held at 11 a.m., on Friday, October 11 at Metropolitan Community Church, 4610 S. Prairie Avenue.
A visitation at 10 a.m. will precede the funeral, according to Cage Memorial Chapel, which is handling the arrangements.
From noon to 5 p.m. on Thursday, October 10, a public viewing will be held at Cage Memorial Chapel, 7651 S. Jeffrey Blvd. Butler will be laid to rest at Lincoln Cemetery, 12300 S. Kedzie Avenue.
Annette was a graduate of Lucy Flower High School and worked as a nurse’s aide at what was then known as Presbyterian-St. Luke’s Hospital. She was a member of Sixth Grace Presbyterian Church in Bronzeville.
In 1959, Annette married Jerry Butler in a grand wedding at Mount Sinai Baptist Church. The nuptials featured many top Rhythm and Blues artists. The groomsmen included Chuck Barksdale of the Moonglows and later of the Dells, Moonglows’ lead singer and later Motown architect, Harvey Fuqua. Another groomsman was singer Wade Flemons, who later performed with Earth Wind & Fire.
Jerry Butler grew up in the Cabrini-Green Housing Projects. Butler met Curtis Mayfield, with whom he began his musical career as part of a quintet called “Jerry Butler and The Impressions.”
In 1958, The Impressions had their first hit with the classic “For Your Precious Love,” after which the group cordially split and 18-year-old Butler went on to pursue a solo career. In 1991, the group was inducted in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
