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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

  
 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to 
3learn of the death of the First Lady of the City of North 
4Chicago, Gwendolyn Rockingham, who passed away on December 19, 
52011; and
  
 
6    WHEREAS, She was born in Evanston on August 26th, 1953, the 
7second of 5 children born to Tommie and Bertha Simmons; as a 
8child, she  was a member of Gideon Church and active in the 
9children's choir; she attended Whittier Grade School, Webster 
10Junior High School, and graduated from Waukegan High School; 
11she  later earned a Certificate in Accounting from the College 
12of Lake County and was inducted into the Phi Theta Kappa 
13Educational Honor Society; and
  
 
14    WHEREAS, She  was employed with AT&T; she began her career 
15as a Customer Service Representative and retired as a Systems 
16Technician High CAP Tester after 28 years of service; and
  
 
17    WHEREAS, She was a member of Mt. Sinai Institutional 
18Baptist Church of North Chicago where she served in the choir, 
19Down Home Weekend, Benevolence, and Couples Ministries; she 
20loved to spend summers camping with her husband Leon, family, 
21and friends, who included the Ebony Dream Makers; she also 
22served as the Treasurer of Citizens for Leon Rockingham; and
  
 
 
 
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1    WHEREAS, She was preceded in death by her parents; and her 
2brother, Thomas "Skip" Simmons; and
  
 
3    WHEREAS, Gwendolyn Rockingham is survived by her husband of 
436 years, Leon Rockingham, Jr., Mayor of the City of North 
5Chicago; their children, Tameka (Sean) Wilson and Lea; her 
6grandchildren David, Brianna, and Terryn; her brothers, Gary 
7(Patricia) Simmons and Ted (Mattie) Simmons; her sister, 
8Patrice (Lynn) Dubose; and her beloved nieces, nephews, and 
9cousins; therefore, be it
  
 
10    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL 
11ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn, along with 
12her family and friends, the passing of Gwendolyn Rockingham; 
13and be it further
  
 
14    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
15presented to the family of Gwendolyn Rockingham as a symbol of 
16our sincere sympathy.