SR1484LRB101 23079 ECR 74209 r


  
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.