SR0779 97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0779 LRB097 21530 KXB 69655 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Carol Ann Winn of Chicago, who passed away on May 7, 2012; and

WHEREAS, She was the only child born to Lula Bell Winn on October 31, 1950 in Nashville, Tennessee; she attended Elementary and High School in the Nashville Public Schools, in some of the first schools to integrate; she was accepted to Hampton University, but later transferred to Norfolk State University to complete her Bachelors of Science in Social Work in 1972; she became a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated while at Norfolk State; and

WHEREAS, She later worked as Houseparent at the Monroe Harding Children's Home; in 1981, she completed her Masters of Social Work at the University of Tennessee Knoxville; and

WHEREAS, She was an accomplished social worker and advocating for children and families was her true calling; she began her professional career with Planned Parenthood in Nashville; she moved to Chicago in 1982, getting a job at Sadie Waterford Manor as a Social Worker; she then worked at Bobby E. Wright Comprehensive Community Mental Health Center in private practice as a therapist, at Accounters Community Center, for the University of Chicago's Parent Health and Infant Development Initiative, and as the Director for Essex House at Bartelme Homes; in 1989, she was hired as the Division Director of Foster Care at Ada S. McKinley Community Services, Inc. where she was director until 2009; and

WHEREAS, She was involved in many organizations as a committee and board member including: the National Association of Black Social Workers (of which she was Immediate Past President), the National Association of Social Workers, the International Foster Care Organization, the African American Family Commission, and the Southeast Community Youth Services Board; she also served on advisory committees at Northern Illinois University, Chicago State University, the Chicago Sexual Assault Services Network, ABJ Community Services, Inc., Coordinating Opportunities for Parenting Education, and the Community Mental Health Council's Professional Advisory Board; she also dedicated time as a consultant for the Chicago Urban League, Center for Successful Childhood Development; and

WHEREAS, She received many honors throughout her career, including being named the 2009 recipient of the NASW Lifetime Achievement Award and the 2007 Phenomenal Woman Award from Chicago's Black Women Expo; and

WHEREAS, She was an avid reader, and was a founding member of the Sisterhood, a book club group of professional black women; she enjoyed creative endeavors and was a collector of African- American as well as African art; she enjoyed the theatre and music and encouraged the musical education of both of her children; spirituality was paramount to her, and she spent a lot of times cultivating her faith; and

WHEREAS, She was preceded in death by her mother, Lula Bell Winn; and

WHEREAS, Carol Ann Winn leaves to cherish her memories, her daughter, Tya Carol; her son, Jonathan Andrew David; her aunt, Betty Foster; her uncles, John Winn and Thomas Mullins; and many loving and devoted cousins, extended family, and close friends; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn, along with her family and friends, the passing of Carol Ann Winn; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Carol Ann Winn as a symbol of our sincere sympathy.