HR1358 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR1358 LRB096 22780 KXB 42113 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are saddened to learn of the death of Sarah Jane Clarke of Olive Branch, who passed away on June 28, 2010; and

WHEREAS, She was born December 23, 1931, in Mounds, the daughter of the late John R. and Mary Agnes Travers; she was married to Peter J. Clarke and was a member of St. Patricks Catholic Church in Cairo; and

WHEREAS, She was director of the Shawnee Development Council before her retirement; during a long and distinguished career she was also a charter board member for Illinois Ventures for Community Action, that has expanded into a multi-million dollar lending arm for businesses; she served on the Illinois Community Action Association board; she was a member of the National Leadership Commission through the Department of Labor; she was Region 5 representative to the National Association of Counties (NACO); and she was Charter President for the Illinois Employment and Training Association; and

WHEREAS, In addition, she was a member of the National Association of Community Action Agencies; a Charter Members and Past Chairman of the Illinois CETA Director's Association; an original member of the SIDEZ board; a member of the original Manpower board in 1969; and a member of the IMTI (Illinois Management Institute); and

WHEREAS, Her other activities on the local level included serving as past president of the Cairo Junior Woman's Club, past director of the Cairo Chamber of Commerce, past director of the Cairo Historical Association, past president of Xi Beta Beta Chapter of Beta Sigma Phi, past chairman of the Alexander County Democratic Women's Organization, captain for the Mother's March on Polio and Child Defects, chairman of the Korean War Memorial Fund, chairman of the Alexander Cerebral Palsy Drive, secretary and organizational chairman for the Red Cross Drive, serving as a leader in Brownie and Girl Scouting for seven years, chairman of the Alexander County Crippled Children Drive, and as a member of the President's White House Conference on Youth; and

WHEREAS, Mrs. Clarke was also well known for writing and obtaining grants which provided the original funding for the nutrition program, the Daystar nursing home, and the Southern Five Regional Planning Commission; and she was the recipient of the Harry Ring Outstanding Service Award; and

WHEREAS, In addition to her parents, Mrs. Clarke was preceded in death by her son, Peter J. Clarke, Jr.; and

WHEREAS, Sarah Jane Clarke is survived by her husband, Peter J. Clarke; her three daughters, Mary Candace (Richard) Keates, Linda K. (Willis) Jackson, and Sally Ann Harrington; her two sons, John A. "Andy" Clarke and Judge Mark H. (Susan) Clarke; her brother, Charles Travers; her ten grandchildren; her four great-grandchildren; and several nieces, nephews, other relatives, and many friends; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn, along with her family and friends, the passing of Sarah Jane Clarke; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Sarah Jane Clarke as a symbol of our sincere sympathy.