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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened
3to learn of the death of Berta Louise Cowan Lightford of
4Chicago, who passed away on October 23, 2022; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Berta Lightford was born to Andy Cowan Jr. and
6Mary Frances Leslie Cowan in Huntsville, Alabama on November
719, 1925; she attended Springhill Grammar School and Council
8High School in Madison County, Alabama; she took welding
9classes at A&M College during World War II; she married Eddie
10Clifton Lightford on November 22, 1944, and they moved to
11Chicago in 1946, raising their children there for 32 years;
12and
 
13    WHEREAS, Berta Lightford worked at Redstone Arsenal, a
14U.S. Army base, in Huntsville, Alabama; she became a housewife
15after marriage, which she loved as she and her husband were
16very family oriented; and
 
17    WHEREAS, Berta Lightford volunteered as block club
18president after becoming a widow; she then became a precinct
19captain, joining two of her daughters in politics; and
 
20    WHEREAS, Berta Lightford was committed to her faith; she
21grew up as a member of the Springhill Methodist AME Church; she

 

 

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1was later baptized at Mount Hebron Baptist Church in Chicago,
2where she often attended services with her daughters; and
 
3    WHEREAS, Berta Lightford enjoyed entertaining her family,
4traveling, fishing, watching soap operas, shopping, and
5decorating her home; and
 
6    WHEREAS, Berta Lightford was known for living her life on
7her own terms; she loved her family immensely and was
8endlessly proud of them and their accomplishments, happily
9sharing family stories with others; and
 
10    WHEREAS, Berta Lightford was preceded in death by her
11parents; her husband; her grandfather, Andy Cowan Sr.; her
12grandmother, Berta Timmons-Joyner Cowan; her cousin, Arthur
13Love Sr.; her brother, James Daniel "JD" Cowan; her
14brother-in-law, Ennis Lightford; and her best friend and
15sister-in-law, Delia Fitcheard Lightford; and
 
16    WHEREAS, Berta Lightford is survived by her children,
17Andrew Clark, Melvin (Barbara) Leon Sr., Carolyn (Paul),
18Pamela Olivia, and Mamie Frances; her grandchildren, Carmelita
19Patrice (Eric), Billy Arthur, Janon Monique, April Marie,
20Kimberly Ann (Eric), Michael Clark, Pamela Delores, Melvin
21(Sonya) Leon Jr., Curtis II, Carolyn Lightford, Jessica Lynn
22(Zachary), and Darryl Stephen; her 21 great-grandchildren; her

 

 

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112 great-great-grandchildren; her stepson, Arthur Lee
2(Joanne); her nine step-grandchildren; her nephews, Lynn
3Patrick Love and Virgil (Kathy) Blevins; a host of nieces,
4nephews, and cousins; her goddaughter, Deborah Ann Gamble; and
5her friends, Linton Johnson, Maria Branch, Michael Owens, and
6Curtis Owens Sr.; therefore, be it
 
7    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED SECOND GENERAL
8ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of
9Berta Louise Cowan Lightford and extend our sincere
10condolences to her family, friends, and all who knew and loved
11her; and be it further
 
12    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
13presented to the family of Berta Lightford as an expression of
14our deepest sympathy.