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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to
3learn of the death of Barbara "Barb" Jean Adkins of
4Bloomington, who passed away on November 7, 2020; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Barb Adkins was born to Kaolah (Cross) and Earnest
6Adkins Sr. in East St. Louis on April 19, 1959; she graduated
7from East St. Louis Lincoln Senior High School in 1977; she
8graduated with a bachelor's degree in criminal justice from
9Illinois State University in 1961; and
 
10    WHEREAS, Barb Adkins worked for the City of Bloomington for
1132 years, starting as a part-time police dispatcher; she became
12the city community relations coordinator in 1993 and the
13community affairs specialist in 2000; she retired in 2014,
14after serving eight years as the deputy city manager; in
15retirement, she worked as manager of the Route 66 Visitors
16Center at the Museum of History in Bloomington; and
 
17    WHEREAS, Barb Adkins was very involved in her community; in
181996, she helped organize the first "Not in Our Town"
19anti-racism march in Bloomington-Normal; she also served as a
20housing commissioner for the City of Bloomington Housing
21Authority and as an officer of the Central Illinois Chapter of
22The Links, an international public service organization; and
 

 

 

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1    WHEREAS, Barb Adkins was a lifetime member of the NAACP;
2she was also a member of Loving Missionary Baptist Church; and
 
3    WHEREAS, In 1999, Barb Adkins received the YWCA "Woman of
4Distinction Award"; she was passionate about human rights and
5was skilled in inviting people into the discussion, offering
6everyone a chance to learn and an opportunity to grow; she will
7be remembered especially for her big heart; and
 
8    WHEREAS, Barb Adkins was preceded in death by her father;
9her mother; her brother, Ernest Jr.; her niece, Sheleese; and
10her two nephews, Marcus and Darryl; and
 
11    WHEREAS, Barb Adkins is survived by her brothers, Horace
12(Rene) Adkins and Michael (Wendy) Adkins; her sisters, Diane
13Adkins and Lucretia Wallace; her fourteen favorite nephews and
14nieces, Renita (Charles), Narda, Ernest, Patrick (Tru),
15Karvia, Naunita, LaShon (Anthony), LaToya (Darryl), Donish
16(Ebony), MaryLou, Zanekqua, Courtney, Bilal, and Diamon
17(Tre'Quan); her host of grandnieces and grandnephews and
18great-grandnieces and great-grandnephews; and her special
19friends, Gwen Donnelly, Trece' Spears, Evelyn Young (C.O.F.),
20Rhonda Smith, Wanita Smith, Rosie Boyd-Smith, and all of her
21sisters of the Central Illinois Chapter of The Links,
22Incorporated; therefore, be it
 

 

 

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1    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL
2ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of
3Barbara "Barb" Jean Adkins and extend our sincere condolences
4to her family, friends, and all who knew and loved her; and be
5it further
 
6    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
7presented to the family of Barb Adkins as an expression of our
8deepest sympathy.