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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to
3learn of the death of Charlie Mae Brown Snowden, who passed
4away on January 8, 2020; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Charlie Mae Snowden was born to James Brown and
6Gertrude Vance Brown in Mound Bayou, Mississippi on November
712, 1923; at just three years old, she became a part of history
8as she and six million other African Americans traveled north
9in search of a better life during the Great Migration; and
 
10    WHEREAS, Charlie Mae Snowden graduated from DuSable High
11School in January of 1941; following graduation, Charlie Mae
12did several odd jobs, including work as a waitress and a hotel
13domestic; one day as she was walking home from work, she met
14John Willis Snowden; the two soon married and had five
15children; and
 
16    WHEREAS, Charlie Mae Snowden was devoted to Coppin Memorial
17AME church and served in a variety of capacities, including as
18a member of the Women's Chorus and the Chancel Choir and as a
19Sunday School Teacher; she was elected to the church's board of
20directors as a Steward and joined the Golden Agers of Coppin
21and the Excelsior's Club; the Excelsior's Club was one of the
22major fundraising arms of the church and organized many events,

 

 

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1including the very successful annual fashion show, which
2Charlie Mae chaired on at least two occasion; and
 
3    WHEREAS, Charlie Mae Snowden was involved as a parent
4volunteer in the Boy Scouts of America, Girl Scouts of America,
5and the Blue Birds; she served on the Mother's Board of the
6Parkway Gardens Homes, the Women's Auxiliary of the Woodlawn
7Little League, and the Mother's Board of the Parkway Garden's
8Christian Church; and
 
9    WHEREAS, Charlie Mae Snowden adored clothes and had an
10impeccable sense of style; for more than 36 years, she was
11employed at Saks Fifth Avenue where she received several
12awards, including the Employee of the Month and Master
13Performer as well as Letters of Appreciation for Dedication to
14Excellence; after she retired, she became a member of the 9:15
15Club, a club for retirees of Saks who obtain special privileges
16from the company; and
 
17    WHEREAS, A staunch union member, Charlie Mae Snowden served
18as an officer in the Retail, Wholesale, and Department Store
19Union (R.W.D.S.U.) of the AFL-CIO Local 291; and
 
20    WHEREAS, Charlie Mae Snowden enjoyed visiting with friends
21and tirelessly serving her church; she delighted in watching
22her children raise families of their own and thoroughly loved

 

 

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1having her nine grandchildren over for weekend visits and
2attending their sporting events, recitals, school programs,
3graduations, and weddings; she loved to dance, listen to James
4Brown, watch NBA Basketball, and eat sweets; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Charlie Mae Snowden was preceded in death by her
6daughter, JoAnn; daughter-in-law, Angela, grandson-in-law,
7Darryl, and her great-grandson, Roderick; and
 
8    WHEREAS, Charlie Mae Snowden is survived by her devoted
9children, John Jr. (Annie Mae), Gertrude, Charles, and
10Lawrence; her grandchildren, April, Darrin (Tyra), Kitwana,
11Nathalie (Michael), Tahirah, John III "John-John", Sylvia,
12Lydia (Royce), and Charles II; her great-grandchildren,
13Robert, Brandon (Maddy), Julian, Kameela, Kaliah, Nayla,
14Darryl Jr. "DJ", Nyla, Tyla, Mason, and Harrison; her
15great-great-grandchildren, Kevin, Kev'ron, and Riley; her
16nieces and nephews; and her friends; therefore, be it
 
17    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL
18ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of
19Charlie Mae Brown Snowden and extend our sincere condolences to
20her family, friends, and all who knew and loved her; and be it
21further
 
22    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be

 

 

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1presented to the family of Charlie Mae Snowden as an expression
2of our deepest sympathy.