HR1218 LRB095 20869 GRL 49721 r

1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2     WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of
3 Representatives are saddened to learn of the death of Wenona E.
4 Thompson, beloved community servant and friend, who passed away
5 on February 23, 2008; and
 
6     WHEREAS, Wenona E. Thompson was born on November 27, 1975
7 in Chicago; her parents were the late Johnny L. Owens Jr. and
8 Rosemary Thompson; and
 
9     WHEREAS, In her short life, Wenona E. Thompson went from
10 being a nearly invisible presence in Chicago's Ida B. Wells
11 housing projects to becoming one of Illinois' most passionate
12 and effective advocates for women and girls in the criminal
13 justice system; and
 
14     WHEREAS, Wenona E. Thompson served as Program Director of
15 the Girl Talk Program at the Cook County Juvenile Temporary
16 Detention Center, where she guided, educated, and inspired
17 young women to lead productive lives; and
 
18     WHEREAS, Wenona E. Thompson was a champion for the cause of
19 fighting social and economic inequality wherever she saw it;
20 she used her poetry and public speaking at workshops and
21 conferences across the country to further her beliefs; and
 

 

 

HR1218 - 2 - LRB095 20869 GRL 49721 r

1     WHEREAS, Wenona E. Thompson understood the importance of
2 education; she demonstrated this by earning her associate's
3 degree at Kennedy King College and her bachelor's and master's
4 degrees at Northeastern Illinois University; and
 
5     WHEREAS, As the beloved mother of Tennelle Thompson and
6 Shaquille Thompson, Wenona E. Thompson has left a legacy of
7 faith, dignity, compassion, and love; therefore, be it
 
8     RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
9 NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we
10 mourn, along with her family and friends, the passing of Wenona
11 E. Thompson and extend to her loved ones our deepest sympathy;
12 and be it further
 
13     RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
14 presented to the family of Wenona E. Thompson as an expression
15 of our sympathy.