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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2     WHEREAS, The members of the Senate of the State of Illinois
3 learned with sadness of the death of Gwendolyn Blackburn on
4 April 8, 2005; and
 
5     WHEREAS, Gwendolyn Blackburn was born Gwendolyn Sharlita
6 Finch on January 15, 1935, to Marie M. Finch and John L. Finch;
7 and
 
8     WHEREAS, Gwendolyn Blackburn was the fourth child, joining
9 eldest sibling Gloria (Moseberry); her brother, John, Jr.; and
10 her sister, Anita (Wright); and
 
11     WHEREAS, Gwendolyn Blackburn, in her formative years,
12 attended Edmund Burke Elementary School, A.O. Sexton
13 Elementary, and Englewood High School; and
 
14     WHEREAS, Gwendolyn Blackburn married Clifton H. Blackburn
15 on February 17, 1953; and
 
16     WHEREAS, Gwendolyn Blackburn was a sales associate for
17 Archway Cookies and Parker House Sausages; and
 
18     WHEREAS, Gwendolyn Blackburn was a den mother for the Cub
19 Scouts and a 4-H leader; and
 
20     WHEREAS, Gwendolyn Blackburn attended cosmetology school
21 and Teachers College; and
 
22     WHEREAS, Gwendolyn Blackburn was a freelance demonstrator
23 for Jesse Owens Marketing; and
 
24     WHEREAS, Gwendolyn Blackburn was the owner of Ask Gwen
25 Bridal for 20 years, the first black woman in the bridal
26 business in Chicago, and she ran several businesses from home,

 

 

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1 including event planning, catering, clothing design, antiques,
2 and collectibles; and
 
3     WHEREAS, Gwendolyn Blackburn was active in the civil rights
4 movement having been an organizer for the March on Washington;
5 and
 
6     WHEREAS, Gwendolyn Blackburn was a teacher in the Freedom
7 School, teaching black family values to our youth; and
 
8     WHEREAS, Gwendolyn Blackburn was the loving wife and proud
9 mother of three independent thinking sons, Kahil, Chelton, and
10 Cherman; the doting grandmother to her ten grandchildren; a
11 mother to countless young women; and a role model to all who
12 came within her beguiling ways; therefore, be it
 
13     RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL
14 ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of
15 Gwendolyn Blackburn, and we extend our sincerest condolences to
16 her friends, family, and community; and be it further
 
17     RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
18 presented to her family as an expression of our deepest
19 sympathy.