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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to
3learn of the death of Rosie Lee Atchison; and
 
4    WHEREAS, Rosie Atchison was born in Bolivar, Mississippi to
5Rosanna Ford and Henry Liner on August 15, 1911; after her
6mother died when she was an infant, she and her father later
7relocated to Clarksdale, Mississippi; she had a short first
8marriage to Willie Alexander, and they had three children; she
9later married Andrew Atchison, and they had two children; and
 
10    WHEREAS, Rosie Atchison and her two young children migrated
11to Chicago in 1935; she joined the Greater Salem Baptist
12Church, where she was a member of the Dr. Watt's Choir; in
131937, she married Andrew Atchison, and for 14 years, they lived
14in what was known as Chicago's Black Metropolis, The Mecca
15Building, where she was known to always help those in need; she
16was hired as a coach cleaner for the Pennsylvania Railroad in
171940; and
 
18    WHEREAS, By 1951, Rosie Atchison's family and all residents
19of the Mecca Building were forced out of their homes for the
20purpose of building what is now the Illinois Institute of
21Technology; she and her family lived in several locations,
22after seeking shelter at City Hall, and she eventually moved

 

 

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1into the Robert Taylor Homes with her eldest daughter and eight
2grandchildren following the passing of her husband in 1963; and
 
3    WHEREAS, Rosie Atchison purchased a two flat building in
4Chicago's Englewood community on November 20, 1970; after 30
5years of service with the railroad, she retired from what is
6now known today as Amtrak; and
 
7    WHEREAS, Rosie Atchison was affectionately known as "Big
8Ma"; she helped to keep her community a safe place for every
9resident young and old in her neighborhood; her door was always
10open to those in need, and she was truly a pillar in her
11community and well-respected; she will especially be
12remembered for setting an example for her family of the
13importance of hard work, determination, and perseverance; and
 
14    WHEREAS, Rosie Atchison was preceded in death by her
15husband, Andrew; two children; two grandchildren; two
16great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild; and
 
17    WHEREAS, Rosie Atchison is survived by two children; 16
18grandchildren; 58 great-grandchildren; 94
19great-great-grandchildren; and 24
20great-great-great-grandchildren; therefore, be it
 
21    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL

 

 

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1ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of
2Rosie Lee Atchison and extend our sincere condolences to her
3family, friends, and all who knew and loved her; and be it
4further
 
5    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
6presented to the family of Rosie Atchison as an expression of
7our deepest sympathy.