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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to
3learn of the death of the First Lady of the City of North
4Chicago, Gwendolyn Rockingham, who passed away on December 19,
52011; and
 
6    WHEREAS, She was born in Evanston on August 26th, 1953, the
7second of 5 children born to Tommie and Bertha Simmons; as a
8child, she was a member of Gideon Church and active in the
9children's choir; she attended Whittier Grade School, Webster
10Junior High School, and graduated from Waukegan High School;
11she later earned a Certificate in Accounting from the College
12of Lake County and was inducted into the Phi Theta Kappa
13Educational Honor Society; and
 
14    WHEREAS, She was employed with AT&T; she began her career
15as a Customer Service Representative and retired as a Systems
16Technician High CAP Tester after 28 years of service; and
 
17    WHEREAS, She was a member of Mt. Sinai Institutional
18Baptist Church of North Chicago where she served in the choir,
19Down Home Weekend, Benevolence, and Couples Ministries; she
20loved to spend summers camping with her husband Leon, family,
21and friends, who included the Ebony Dream Makers; she also
22served as the Treasurer of Citizens for Leon Rockingham; and
 

 

 

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1    WHEREAS, She was preceded in death by her parents; and her
2brother, Thomas "Skip" Simmons; and
 
3    WHEREAS, Gwendolyn Rockingham is survived by her husband of
436 years, Leon Rockingham, Jr., Mayor of the City of North
5Chicago; their children, Tameka (Sean) Wilson and Lea; her
6grandchildren David, Brianna, and Terryn; her brothers, Gary
7(Patricia) Simmons and Ted (Mattie) Simmons; her sister,
8Patrice (Lynn) Dubose; and her beloved nieces, nephews, and
9cousins; therefore, be it
 
10    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL
11ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn, along with
12her family and friends, the passing of Gwendolyn Rockingham;
13and be it further
 
14    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
15presented to the family of Gwendolyn Rockingham as a symbol of
16our sincere sympathy.