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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

  
 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to  
3learn of the death of
Gwendolyn Rockingham of North Chicago, 
4who passed away on December 19, 2011; and
  
 
5    WHEREAS, Gwendolyn Rockingham was born on August 26, 1953, 
6in Evanston; her parents were Tommie and Bertha Simmons; and
  
 
7    WHEREAS, As a child, Gwendolyn Rockingham and her family 
8relocated to Waukegan, where she was a member of Gideon Church 
9and active in the children's choir; she attended Whittier Grade 
10School and Webster Junior High School before graduating from 
11Waukegan High School; she later earned a Certificate in 
12Accounting from the College of Lake County and was inducted 
13into the Phi Theta Kappa Educational Honor Society; and
  
 
14    WHEREAS, Gwendolyn Rockingham was employed with AT & T for 
15many years; she began her career as a Customer Service 
16Representative; she retired as a Systems Technician High CAP 
17Tester after 28 years of dedicated service; and
  
 
18    WHEREAS, Gwendolyn Rockingham was a member of Mt. Sinai 
19Institutional Baptist Church of North Chicago, where she served 
20in the Choir, Down Home Weekend, Benevolence, and Couples 
21Ministries; she enjoyed spending summers camping with her 
 
 
SR0523- 2 -LRB097 16817 GRL 61998 r

1husband Leon, her family, and her friends, including the Ebony 
2Dream Makers; she also served as the Treasurer of the Citizens 
3for Leon Rockingham; and
 
4    WHEREAS, Gwendolyn Rockingham was preceded in death by her 
5parents and her brother, Thomas "Skip" Simmons; and
  
 
6    WHEREAS,Gwendolyn Rockingham is survived by her husband of 
736 years, Leon Rockingham, Jr., Mayor of the City of North 
8Chicago; her children, Tameka (Sean) Wilson and Lea; her 
9grandchildren, David, Brianna, and Terryn; her brothers, Gary 
10(Patricia) Simmons and Ted (Mattie) Simmons; her sister, 
11Patrice (Lynn) Dubose; and her many beloved nieces, nephews, 
12and cousins; therefore, be it
  
 
13    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL 
14ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn, along with 
15her family and friends, the passing of Gwendolyn Rockingham; 
16and be it further
  
 
17    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
18presented to the family of Gwendolyn Rockingham as an 
19expression of our sympathy.