HR1420 LRB094 21356 HSS 59706 r

1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2     WHEREAS, The members of the House of Representatives of the
3 State of Illinois learned with sadness of the death of Vernice
4 (Taylor) Brownlee on Wednesday, August 16, 2006; and
 
5     WHEREAS, Vernice (Taylor) Brownlee, affectionately known
6 as "Lady Brownlee" was born on August 15, 1935, in Prichard,
7 Mississippi, to Luke and Isabella C. Taylor; and
 
8     WHEREAS, She attended public schools in Memphis,
9 Tennessee, and graduated from Douglas High School; she moved to
10 Chicago in 1956 and graduated with a license in cosmetology
11 from the famed Madam C.J. Walker School of Beauty Culture; and
 
12     WHEREAS, She was united in marriage to Thomas O. Brownlee
13 Sr. on September 6, 1958, in Chicago; they shared 47 wonderful
14 years of marriage; and
 
15     WHEREAS, Mrs. Brownlee joined the Independence Blvd
16 Seventh-Day Adventist Church in Chicago in 1961, where she
17 remained a very active member until her death; she served as a
18 Board member, a Home and School Leader, Ingathering
19 Coordinator, Sabbath School Superintendent, Community Service
20 Assistant Director, Investment Leader, and a member of the
21 Society of Christian Ladies; she was proud and honored to have
22 coordinated the church's current educational fundraising
23 project; and
 
24     WHEREAS, She began her professional career in 1965 with the
25 Chicago Committee on Urban Opportunities, now known as the
26 Chicago Department of Human Services, where she was a Human
27 Resource Specialist for more than 26 years; she retired from
28 the Chicago Department of Human Services in 1991; and
 
29     WHEREAS, In addition to working and raising a family, Mrs.

 

 

HR1420 - 2 - LRB094 21356 HSS 59706 r

1 Brownlee attended night school, earning a Bachelor of Science
2 degree in communications from Roosevelt University and a Master
3 of Social Work degree from Governor State University; in 2003,
4 she joined the exciting world of entrepreneurship and began her
5 own business, Vernice's Culinary Delights; and
 
6     WHEREAS, Even in retirement, Mrs. Brownlee stayed very
7 active with various community and civic organizations; she was
8 a board member of the Better Boys Foundation, serving actively
9 as President of the Parent Council Auxiliary; a member of the
10 Westside Association of Community Action (WACA); President of
11 the 2200-2300 Block Club Kildare Avenue; and a member of the
12 Friends of Bobbie L. Steele Organization; with her soul mate
13 and daughters, she founded the Care and Share Bus Tour which
14 organized annual trips to Hot Springs, Arkansas; and
 
15     WHEREAS, The passing of Vernice (Taylor) Brownlee has been
16 deeply felt by many, especially her husband, Thomas 0.
17 Brownlee, Sr.; her children, Yolanda Maria Brownlee, Thomas
18 Oliver Brownlee, Jr., and Melva Latrice Brownlee; her mother,
19 Isabella C. Taylor; her grandchildren, Christian and Catrell
20 Brownlee; her siblings, Calvin Taylor (Sonia), Lee Dale Taylor
21 (Louise), Marjorie Taylor James, Hosea Taylor, C.L. Taylor
22 (Irene), Doretha Taylor Walker, Eunice Taylor Hobbs, and Melvin
23 Taylor (Renee); her aunt, Ora Mae Rushing; her sister-in-law,
24 Geraldine Bender; her spiritual godmother, Marie Daggs; and her
25 many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends; she was preceded in
26 death by her father, Luke Taylor, and her sister, Montrose T.
27 Hall; therefore, be it
 
28     RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
29 NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
30 we mourn the passing of Vernice (Taylor) Brownlee, and we
31 extend our deepest sympathy to her family, her friends, and all
32 who knew and loved her; and be it further
 

 

 

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1     RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
2 presented to her family as an expression of our sincerest
3 condolences.