SR0317 102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0317 LRB102 18627 ECR 26979 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Yvonne Brown; and

WHEREAS, Yvonne Brown was born to Walter and Bertha Robinson on October 18, 1934; she attended A.O Sexton Grammar School, Hyde Park High School, and the University of Chicago Lab School; she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration from the University of Chicago; she met and married Thomas R. Pearson, and they had four sons; she later met and married Isaiah Brown, and they had one son; and

WHEREAS, Yvonne Brown was a devoted employee of the United States Civil Service Department; she also worked over 30 years as a fiscal manager with the Archdiocese of Chicago Catholic Charities and retired in 2004; and

WHEREAS, In 1967, Yvonne Brown joined the Mary McLeod Bethune Temple, where she was appointed to serve on the Trustee Board; she served as a Doorkeeper, Gatekeeper, Assistant Daughter Ruler, and Vice Daughter, and was the third Daughter to serve as Daughter Ruler; she received Past State President Honors in Rockford through the fashion department; in 1972 in St. Louis, she received Past Grand Daughter Ruler honors through the Grand Daughter Ruler's Volunteer Department; and

WHEREAS, On the Illinois and Wisconsin state level, Yvonne Brown served as the Membership Chairperson, Initiation Chairperson, Trustee, and Administrative Assistant to then Daughter State President Alfrenia Y. Hampton; on the national level, she served as one of the first Grand Temple Marshals, District Deputy for 15 years, and Grand Temple Trustee for 3 years; currently, she was serving as Secretary for the Grand Temple's Grievance and Appeals Committee; she was also serving as President of the National Daughter State Presidents Council, which is a role in which she served since 1992; and

WHEREAS, Yvonne Brown actively participated as a member of the Grand Exalted Ruler's Advisory Board, the Grand Lodge Civil Liberties Department, and the National Association of Professional Women; she mentored in the Turn Around Program; she was past matron of Queen Esther Chapter No. 5, the Order of the Eastern Star and was a past member of the Most Ancient Grand Matron Heroines of Jericho; and

WHEREAS, Yvonne Brown was a recipient of the C.L. 6 Blanche Smith Image Award; and

WHEREAS, Yvonne Brown was a devoted member of the #2 Mount Pleasant M.B Church in Chicago; and

WHEREAS, Yvonne Brown was preceded in death by her parents, Walter and Bertha Robinson; her first husband, Thomas R. Pearson; her second husband, Isaiah Brown; her brother, Thomas White; her sister, Yvette Garlington; and her oldest son, Thomas Pearson Jr.; and

WHEREAS, Yvonne Brown is survived by her four sons, Theron Pearson, Tyrone (Kathleen) Pearson, Thurston (Bobbie) Pearson, and Isaiah Brown Jr.; her twenty grandchildren; her 55 great-grandchildren; her seven nieces; her three nephews; and a host of family and friends; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED SECOND GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Yvonne Brown and extend our sincere condolences to her family, friends, and all who knew and loved her; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Yvonne Brown as an expression of our deepest sympathy.