SR0534 97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0534 LRB097 16879 KXB 62065 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of the First Lady of the City of North Chicago, Gwendolyn Rockingham, who passed away on December 19, 2011; and

WHEREAS, She was born in Evanston on August 26th, 1953, the second of 5 children born to Tommie and Bertha Simmons; as a child, she was a member of Gideon Church and active in the children's choir; she attended Whittier Grade School, Webster Junior High School, and graduated from Waukegan High School; she later earned a Certificate in Accounting from the College of Lake County and was inducted into the Phi Theta Kappa Educational Honor Society; and

WHEREAS, She was employed with AT&T; she began her career as a Customer Service Representative and retired as a Systems Technician High CAP Tester after 28 years of service; and

WHEREAS, She was a member of Mt. Sinai Institutional Baptist Church of North Chicago where she served in the choir, Down Home Weekend, Benevolence, and Couples Ministries; she loved to spend summers camping with her husband Leon, family, and friends, who included the Ebony Dream Makers; she also served as the Treasurer of Citizens for Leon Rockingham; and

WHEREAS, She was preceded in death by her parents; and her brother, Thomas "Skip" Simmons; and

WHEREAS, Gwendolyn Rockingham is survived by her husband of 36 years, Leon Rockingham, Jr., Mayor of the City of North Chicago; their children, Tameka (Sean) Wilson and Lea; her grandchildren David, Brianna, and Terryn; her brothers, Gary (Patricia) Simmons and Ted (Mattie) Simmons; her sister, Patrice (Lynn) Dubose; and her beloved nieces, nephews, and cousins; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn, along with her family and friends, the passing of Gwendolyn Rockingham; and be it further

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