HR1381

LRB095 21640 KXB 51776 r






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HOUSE RESOLUTION


 
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    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of 
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Representatives are saddened to learn of the death of Virgie 
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Louise Brooks Harris of Chicago, who passed away on May 27, 
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2008; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Virgie Louise Brooks Harris was born August 24, 
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1924 in Kosciusko, Mississippi, to the late Robert G Brooks and 
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Hattie L Kimbrough; she attended school in Mississippi until 
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secondary level and continued that education at DuSable High 
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School after moving to Chicago in her late teens; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Virgie met and married the late Joseph B Harris; 
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they were blessed with four beautiful children; she was a 
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dedicated mother and wife and devoted her entire life to caring 
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for her family, offering constant nurturing and support; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Virgie was the owner of the H & A Restaurant, a 
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business started by her mother in 1945, which she came to work 
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at when arriving in Chicago in the 1940s; after being an 
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employee to her mother for many years, her mother made her a 
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partner in the business in the 1960s; and

 
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    WHEREAS, The business was incorporated in the 1970s under 
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the original name it was founded as, H & A Shrimp Shop 
 


 






HR1381
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LRB095 21640 KXB 51776 r




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Incorporated,  and remained a State of Illinois legal corporate 
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entity until 2006, at which time Virgie retired and sold the 
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business; H & A was a community icon, providing jobs and 
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economic viability to the City of Chicago for 62 years, and 
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will be forever remembered by all who either worked or ate 
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there; and

 
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    WHEREAS, On Tuesday, May 27, 2008, Virgie was asked to work 
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for the Heavenly Restaurant in Eternity, and she gladly 
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accepted the chance to serve all and be re-united with all her 
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friends and family whom had preceded her in passing; she always 
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remembered her customers, which numbered in the thousands; 
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therefore, be it

 
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    RESOLVED, BY THE  HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 
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NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we 
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mourn, along with her family, friends, and former customers and 
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co-workers, the passing of Virgie Louise Brooks Harris; and be 
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it further

 
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    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
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presented to the family of Virgie Louise Brooks Harris as a 
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symbol of our sincere sympathy.