SR0920LRB103 40258 LAW 72236 r

1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened
3to learn of the death of Cook County Clerk Karen A. Yarbrough,
4who passed away on April 7, 2024; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Clerk Yarbrough was born on August 22, 1950; she
6earned an undergraduate degree in business management from
7Chicago State University and a master's degree in inner city
8studies from Northeastern Illinois University; she married
9Henderson Yarbrough; and
 
10    WHEREAS, At the time of her passing, Clerk Yarbrough was
11serving her second term as Clerk of Cook County; she was first
12elected in 2018, becoming the first woman and first African
13American to hold the office; during her tenure, she oversaw
14elections in suburban Cook County and maintained the county's
15vital records, such as birth, marriage, civil union, and death
16certificates; she also assumed all duties of the Cook County
17Recorder of Deeds Office when the position was eliminated in
182020; and
 
19    WHEREAS, Clerk Yarbrough previously served as Cook County
20Recorder of Deeds from December 2012 to 2018; prior to that,
21she served as State Representative of Illinois' 7th District
22from 2001 until 2012, representing parts of the western

 

 

SR0920- 2 -LRB103 40258 LAW 72236 r

1suburbs of Chicago; and
 
2    WHEREAS, Clerk Yarbrough was active in the Democratic
3Party, working for both the Cook County Democratic Party and
4the Democratic Party of Illinois; she served as a
5committeeperson, representing west suburban Proviso Township,
6and treasurer for the former and as a member of the State
7Central Committee for the latter; and
 
8    WHEREAS, Clerk Yarbrough also worked as a licensed real
9estate broker and was the founder of the Hathaway Insurance
10Agency; and
 
11    WHEREAS, Clerk Yarbrough was a dedicated public servant
12and a tireless legislator, serving in public office for more
13than two decades; she will be remembered as a trailblazer who
14inspired others through her work and dedication to Cook County
15and the State of Illinois; therefore, be it
 
16    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL
17ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of
18Cook County Clerk Karen A. Yarbrough and extend our sincere
19condolences to her family, friends, and all who knew and loved
20her; and be it further
 
21    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be

 

 

SR0920- 3 -LRB103 40258 LAW 72236 r

1presented to the family of Clerk Yarbrough as an expression of
2our deepest sympathy.