SR1203 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR1203 LRB103 42524 ECR 75756 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Lillian Josephine "Nicki" Nixon Rickman of Chicago, who passed away on August 1, 2024 at the age of 102; and

WHEREAS, Lillian Rickman, the daughter of Arthur and Emma La Rue Nixon, was born in Downington, Pennsylvania on June 4, 1922; she graduated from high school at the age of 16 and received multiple scholarship opportunities, a testament to the academic excellence she prioritized throughout her life; she then attended the Hampton Institute in Virginia, transferred to and completed nursing school at Freeman's Hospital in Washington, D.C. in 1947, and later earned a Bachelor of Science from the Catholic University of America; she served as an emergency room and operating room nurse in the U.S. Army; she married Edward Rickman in 1949, and he passed away in 1982; she moved to Chicago in 2006; and

WHEREAS, Lillian Rickman worked as a nurse until she left the profession in 1953 to focus on raising her family; during her time in Washington, D.C., she forged many lifetime friendships and supported her husband as he climbed the academic ladder at the Howard University College of Medicine, becoming chair of the Department of Psychiatry/Neurology and building a highly successful private practice; later in life, she became an entrepreneur and managed many real estate investments; and

WHEREAS, Lillian Rickman was active in the Parent Teacher Associations (PTA) of her children's schools and worked to ensure that her children prioritized learning and school performance, while also preparing them to be part of a cohort that desegregated schools in her area; she was also a member of the League of Women Voters, where she was an advocate for Washington, D.C.'s pursuit for home rule; and

WHEREAS, Lillian Rickman enjoyed a variety of activities throughout her life, including traveling, reading, and playing poker and golf; she loved attending quilting bees and being involved in pinochle, bridge, and book clubs; she enjoyed completing the New York Times' crossword puzzle daily and was a skilled Scrabble player; in her later years, she sharpened her culinary skills and grew her own herbs and vegetables; and

WHEREAS, Lillian Rickman valued hard work, patience, and commitment to family, lessons she learned on the farm where she was raised with her seven siblings; she will be most remembered for her legacy of love, including her final wish for her children to continue to love and care for one another and other family members; and

WHEREAS, Lillian Rickman is survived by her children, Stephen, Lorrie, and George; her son-in-law, Emil (Lorrie) Jones Jr.; her daughters-in-law, Linda (Stephen) Rickman, Evangeline (the late Lance) Rickman, and Jennifer (George) Bingham; 14 grandchildren; 21 great-grandchildren; 13 great-great-grandchildren; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Lillian Josephine "Nicki" Nixon Rickman 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 Lillian Rickman as an expression of our deepest sympathy.