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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of
3Representatives are saddened to learn of the death of Dr.
4Brenda Parks-Johnson, who passed away on August 10, 2010; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Brenda Parks-Johnson was born on March 23, 1968,
6in Chicago; her parents were John and Bessie Parks; she married
7Hampton Simmons, whom she affectionately called "Boo"; and
 
8    WHEREAS, Brenda Parks-Johnson attended Langley Avenue
9Church of God and was baptized at an early age; she received
10high marks as a student and graduated with honors from Kenwood
11High School and received a scholarship to attend Northwestern
12University, where she was a proud member of the Delta Sigma
13Theta Sorority; after 4 years of studying, she earned her
14bachelor's degree in psychology from Northwestern; she
15subsequently worked as a social worker with Ada S. McKinley
16until she entered the University of Illinois College of
17Medicine; and
 
18    WHEREAS, After graduating from medical school, Brenda
19Parks-Johnson served as a physician in the combined Family
20Practice and Internal Medicine Residency Program at the Oschner
21Foundation Hospital in New Orleans, Louisiana; during her
22tenure there, she earned many honors and awards and was board

 

 

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1certified in Family Medicine, PALS, BLS, ACLS, and ACLS
2Instructor; as a medical student and resident, she went on
3medical missions to St. Lucia and Ghana, bringing her skills
4and expertise to those overseas without access to healthcare;
5and
 
6    WHEREAS, Brenda Parks-Johnson began her medical career at
7the Circle Family Care Network in Chicago as a physician and
8co-director of the Maternal Child Health Program; she then
9served as a physician for Family Christian Health Center in
10Harvey for a short time before she became ill; she concurrently
11served as an on-call physician at the Resurrection Immediate
12Care Center in Elmwood Park and as a physician at PCC Wellness
13Center in Oak Park, where she provided high risk obstetrical
14services and comprehensive family practice care; she also
15performed deliveries and caesareans at West Suburban Hospital
16in Oak Park; and
 
17    WHEREAS, Brenda Parks-Johnson was well-known by her
18patients as a "doctor's doctor" who became personally involved
19in their lives; she donated her own clothes and baby gear to
20her patients who needed them and answered pages from patients
21who insisted on her help even while on maternity leave for both
22of her pregnancies and during her illness; and
 
23    WHEREAS, Brenda Parks-Johnson was an active member of her

 

 

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1community; she participated in numerous outreach programs in
2the Austin community, most recently as a member of a panel
3discussion focused on the needs and disparities of women and
4communities of color hosted by the Westside Health Authority
5and the African American Leadership Council; and
 
6    WHEREAS, Brenda Parks-Johnson is survived by her devoted
7husband, Hampton Simmons III; her daughters, Kara and Shayla;
8her father, John Parks Jr.; her brothers, Joel and Willie
9Curtis (Debbie); her brother-in-law and sister in-law, Dr.
10Allan and Denelia Dunlap; her father-in-law and mother in-law,
11Mr. Hampton and Mrs. Eindie Simmons, Jr.; her nephews, Justin,
12Austin, and Joseph Parks; her many aunts and uncles; her
13numerous godchildren; and her many wonderful friends; and
 
14    WHEREAS, Brenda Parks-Johnson will be remembered by all who
15knew and loved her as an inspirational, faithful, and
16compassionate wife, mother, friend, and doctor; therefore, be
17it
 
18    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
19NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we
20mourn, along with her family and friends, the passing of Dr.
21Brenda Parks-Johnson; and be it further
 
22    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be

 

 

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1presented to the family of Brenda Parks-Johnson as an
2expression of our sympathy.