HR1381 95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR1381 LRB095 21640 KXB 51776 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are saddened to learn of the death of Virgie Louise Brooks Harris of Chicago, who passed away on May 27, 2008; and

WHEREAS, Virgie Louise Brooks Harris was born August 24, 1924 in Kosciusko, Mississippi, to the late Robert G Brooks and Hattie L Kimbrough; she attended school in Mississippi until secondary level and continued that education at DuSable High School after moving to Chicago in her late teens; and

WHEREAS, Virgie met and married the late Joseph B Harris; they were blessed with four beautiful children; she was a dedicated mother and wife and devoted her entire life to caring for her family, offering constant nurturing and support; and

WHEREAS, Virgie was the owner of the H & A Restaurant, a business started by her mother in 1945, which she came to work at when arriving in Chicago in the 1940s; after being an employee to her mother for many years, her mother made her a partner in the business in the 1960s; and

WHEREAS, The business was incorporated in the 1970s under the original name it was founded as, H & A Shrimp Shop Incorporated, and remained a State of Illinois legal corporate entity until 2006, at which time Virgie retired and sold the business; H & A was a community icon, providing jobs and economic viability to the City of Chicago for 62 years, and will be forever remembered by all who either worked or ate there; and

WHEREAS, On Tuesday, May 27, 2008, Virgie was asked to work for the Heavenly Restaurant in Eternity, and she gladly accepted the chance to serve all and be re-united with all her friends and family whom had preceded her in passing; she always remembered her customers, which numbered in the thousands; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn, along with her family, friends, and former customers and co-workers, the passing of Virgie Louise Brooks Harris; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Virgie Louise Brooks Harris as a symbol of our sincere sympathy.