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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.
4Rebekkah Ann Ross of Chicago, who passed away on April 19,
52011; and
 
6    WHEREAS, She was born in Gary, Indiana, to Dr. David and
7Mrs. Ruthie Ross; she was the youngest of nine children; she
8attended Morgan Park Academy from kindergarten through 11th
9grade and graduated from Chesterton High School with honors;
10and
 
11    WHEREAS, She graduated in 3 years from Butler University in
12Indianapolis, Indiana with a B.A. in psychology; she graduated
13summa cum laude, and was inducted into the elite academic honor
14society of Phi Beta Kappa; following her graduation from
15college, she moved to Nashville, Tennessee to study medicine,
16alongside her best friend and sister, Rachael, at Meharry
17Medical College, where she also graduated with honors; and
 
18    WHEREAS, Upon earning her medical degree and completing her
19residency, Dr. Rebekkah joined her family's medical practice at
20The Ross Family Doctors of Tatum in Gary, Indiana, where she
21practiced medicine alongside her father; and
 

 

 

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1    WHEREAS, Striving for more than academic and professional
2success, she started a not-for-profit organization with her
3sister, Rebuilding Families, where she and her family provided
4services, education, outreach, field-trips, and self-esteem
5building to young girls; after recognizing that young women in
6her hometown encountered increased social pressure from their
7peers and outside negative influences, she created programming
8to rebuild families and expectations through education,
9mentoring, and mirrored success; and
 
10    WHEREAS, In 2004, Rachael introduced Rebekkah to the love
11of her life, Travis Swoope and on May 6, 2006 they were united
12in holy matrimony; together, they became faithful members of
13St. Mark United Methodist Church and became active members of
14the young couple's ministry; and
 
15    WHEREAS, On December 30, 2010, Rebekkah and Travis were
16blessed with a beautiful baby girl that they lovingly named
17Amelia, which means a work of the Lord; Dr. Rebekkah Ross is
18survived by her loving husband, Travis; her beautiful daughter,
19Amelia Hadley; her parents, Ruthie and David; her sisters, Ruth
20Ross Edmonds (Kevon), Rachael, and Lynette; her brothers, David
21III (Sherry), Anthony (Rita), Michael, and Nathaniel; her
22mother-in-law, Annie "Grandma Swoope"; and a host of aunts,
23uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends; therefore, be it
 

 

 

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1    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
2NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
3we mourn, along with her family and friends, the passing of Dr.
4Rebekkah Ross; and be it further
 
5    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
6presented to the family of Dr. Rebekkah Ross as a symbol of our
7sincere sympathy.