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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

  
 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to 
3learn of the death of Dr. Marie Wilkinson of Aurora, who passed 
4away on August 12, 2010; and
  
 
5    WHEREAS, She was born May 6, 1909 in New Orleans, Louisiana 
6as Marie LeBeau; she moved to Aurora in 1929 and married auto 
7mechanic Charles Wilkinson three years later; she was known as 
8the matriarch of Aurora and spent most of her 101 years giving 
9back to the city she called home; she fed the hungry, clothed 
10the poor, convinced politicians to enact fair laws, and fought 
11for equal rights for everyone; and
  
 
12    WHEREAS, In 1961, she started the St. Vincent DePaul Center 
13on Sard Avenue in Aurora with the help of St. Peter's Church; 
14she also helped form the Quad County Urban League, Aurora's  
15Human Relations Commission (which she chaired for 40 years), 
16and the food pantry and child development center that bear her 
17name; and
  
 
18    WHEREAS, She  was a strong crusader for civil rights and 
19worked with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and  met Rosa Parks and 
20Mamie Till-Mobley, the mother of Emmett Till; in 2001, she 
21received the Lumen Christi Award, the Catholic Church's highest 
22honor for missionary work; and
  
 
 
 
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1    WHEREAS, She was preceded in death by her parents, Charles 
2and Maude (Robinson) La Beau; her husband, Charles Wilkinson; 
3her son, Donald Wilkinson; her grandson, Craig Wilkinson; her 
4brother, Edward La Beau, Sr.; her paternal grandparents, Robert 
5and Lena Robinson; her maternal grandmother, Olympia Glapion; 
6and her aunt and uncle, Arthur and Hazel Ogden; and
  
 
7    WHEREAS, Dr. Wilkinson is survived by her daughter, Sheila 
8Scott-Wilkinson; her two granddaughters, Donna Wilkinson and 
9Michelle Wilkinson; her great-grandson, Christopher Wilkinson; 
10and a host of nieces, nephews, friends, and other relatives; 
11therefore, be it
  
 
12    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL 
13ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn, along with 
14her family and friends, the passing of Dr. Marie Wilkinson; and 
15be it further
  
 
16    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
17presented to the family of Dr. Marie Wilkinson as a symbol of 
18our sincere sympathy.