SR0348 93RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0348 LRB093 15182 HSS 40778 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Senate of the State of Illinois learned with great sadness of the death of Lillian Dooley Mudzonga of Zimbabwe on September 30, 2003; and

WHEREAS, Lillian Dooley Mudzonga was born on August 31, 1952 in Chicago to William L. Dooley, Jr. and Mamie J. Dooley; she attended Stephen Douglas Elementary School in Chicago and graduated in the top ten percent of her class at Wendell Phillips High School in Chicago in 1969; and

WHEREAS, She was awarded a scholarship to attend St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota and graduated with honors with a degree in history in 1973; she was very active in many student organizations at the college and held leadership positions in these groups; in addition to her Bachelor's Degree, Lillian held a Master of Arts degree in Education from the University of Minnesota and had completed all the course work for a Doctorate in Education from the University of Minnesota; and

WHEREAS, She met her future husband, the late Orchard Mudzonga, a native of Harare, Zimbabwe, at St. Olaf College and they were married December 29, 1973; in August of 1974, Orchard and Lillian accepted positions at Luther College in Decorah, Iowa; Orchard served as the second Chairperson of the newly created Department of Black Studies and Lillian served in the Student Services Division of the College from 1974 to 1981; her duties included serving as the advisor to the Black Student Union and the Black Cultural Center; she also served as a faculty member in the Upward Bound Program, advised students academically and socially, and was one of the faculty advisors for Kumba Magazine; when her late husband returned to Zimbabwe following that country's independence in 1980, Lillian served as Chairperson of the Department of Black Studies from 1981 to 1982 in his absence; and

WHEREAS, During the summer of 1982 after the birth of their son, Lillian and the children followed Orchard to Zimbabwe where she resided until her death; in Zimbabwe, Lillian was a business woman, international traveler, and served as a speech writer for Dr. Robert Mugabe, the current president of Zimbabwe, until her early retirement in 1999; Lillian traveled back to the U.S. every year during her 21 year stay in Zimbabwe; and

WHEREAS, The passing of Lillian Dooley Mudzonga has been deeply felt by many, especially her daughter, Taawanda; her son, Muchero M.L.K. Mudzonga; her brothers, William L. Dooley (wife: Susan) and Wayne S. Dooley; her sister, Loretta (husband: Perran); and several aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and cousins; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Lillian Dooley Mudzonga, and we extend our deepest sympathy to her friends, family, 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 Dooley Mudzonga as an expression of our sincere condolences.