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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 Sylvia
4Branch Washington, who passed away on January 11, 2013; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Sylvia Branch Washington was born on March 4,
61956; her parents were James and Leora Branch; she married
7Aaron Washington on July 11, 1987; and
 
8    WHEREAS, Sylvia Branch Washington graduated from Dunbar
9High School in 1974; she subsequently attended Daley College to
10pursue an associate's degree; and
 
11    WHEREAS, Sylvia Branch Washington worked at the Corps of
12Engineers, Continental Bank, and Heller Financial until she
13accepted a position as a part-time receptionist for Chicago
1418th Ward Alderman Thomas Murphy, where she served faithfully
15for 14 years; through her dedication to the 18th Ward, she
16later became the 40th Precinct captain and assistant to the
17Alderman; as assistant to the Alderman, her duties included
18taking complaints and taking city service and infrastructure
19requests from 18th Ward residents; and
 
20    WHEREAS, Upon the election of Chicago 18th Ward Alderman
21Lona Lane, Sylvia Branch Washington joined her staff and served

 

 

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1as Chief of Staff of the 18th Ward Alderman for 5 years;
2throughout her service with Alderman Lane, she worked on
3obtaining various infrastructure projects for the community,
4such as repairs to the streets, sidewalks, curbs, gutters, and
5obtaining new street lights; she sat on the board of directors
6for Wrightwood Community Development Corporation and served as
7Commissioner for Southwest Guaranteed Home Equity; she worked
8closely with developers on planning new schools, dialysis
9centers, Ultra Foods stores, and restaurants; she also planned
10and scheduled the alderman's daily meetings; and
 
11    WHEREAS, Sylvia Branch Washington as a member of Trinity
12United Church of Christ under the leadership of Pastor Otis
13Moss III; in her youth, she sang lead in the family choir, gave
14prophecy, and delivered sermons; and
 
15    WHEREAS, Sylvia Branch Washington was preceded in death by
16her grandparents; her father and stepfather; her 2 brothers;
17and her sister; and
 
18    WHEREAS, Sylvia Branch Washington will be dearly missed by
19her loving family, which includes Leora Lockett, Aaron
20Washington, Aaron Branch (Deborah), Doretha Davis (Michael),
21Betty Sanders, Cynthia Smith, Shelia Jackson (Jack), Caryscine
22Branch (Juanita), Kevin Branch, Kenneth Branch, and
23Christopher Branch; her 29 nephews and nieces; and her many

 

 

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1great-nieces, great-nephews, and friends; therefore, be it
 
2    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
3NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
4we mourn, along with her family and friends, the passing of
5Sylvia Branch Washington; and be it further
 
6    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
7presented to the family of Sylvia Branch Washington as an
8expression of our sympathy.