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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2     WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to
3 learn of the death of Juanita Newell Cook of Dolton, who passed
4 away on May 28, 2007; and
 
5     WHEREAS, Juanita Newell Cook was born to the union of Mason
6 Sr. and Ethel Newell on August 7, 1928; Juanita was baptized in
7 the Catholic Church at an early age; she attended St. Elizabeth
8 Grammar School in Chicago, St. Frances High School in
9 Rockcastle, West Virginia, and Loop Junior College in Chicago;
10 and
 
11     WHEREAS, Juanita met and married Wonnie Cook in 1948;
12 Juanita was influential in the lives of many neighborhood
13 children; "Granny" as she was affectionately known, took many
14 of these children into her home and raised them as her own; she
15 remained a devoted Christian throughout her life; she was a
16 member of St. Raphael Catholic Church and the Knights of Peter
17 Claver Auxiliary at St. Benedict the African; she became an
18 active member of St. Mary's Catholic Church after moving to
19 Dolton; and
 
20     WHEREAS, Juanita Cook was employed by the City of Chicago
21 for 39 years; she served under the late Richard J. Daley as a
22 manager in the Department of Human Services and as a community

 

 

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1 liaison in the Englewood area beginning in 1967; she was a
2 committed member of the Democratic Party and served as precinct
3 captain in the 16th Ward, volunteered in the 34th Ward, and was
4 a member of the 9th Ward Democratic Organization; she supported
5 Mayor William Shaw of Dolton for 25 years and Commissioner
6 Robert Shaw in all of their political endeavors, including
7 serving as a manager for the Village of Dolton's political
8 organization; and
 
9     WHEREAS, Preceding her in death was her son Wonnie Jr.; her
10 brothers Paul (Anita), Alfonso (Ella) and Michael; her
11 grand-daughter Melanie (Shawn); her sister-in-law Flossie; and
12 other loved ones; and
 
13     WHEREAS, Juanita Newell Cook leaves her children to cherish
14 her loving memory: Ralph (Martha), Walter (Felicia), Cynthia
15 (Paris Norton), Deborah (William Shaw), and Maurice
16 (Stephanie); her sister Litesha (Bernard); her brothers,
17 Claude (Celestine), Mason Jr. (Rose) and Maurice (Sandra); her
18 grandchildren, Keith, Quentin, LaShanda, Metoyer, Stephen, and
19 Wonnie; her great-grandchildren, Ashley and Asante; and a host
20 of nieces, nephews and other special friends; therefore, be it
 
21     RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL
22 ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn, along with
23 her family and friends, the passing of Juanita Newell Cook; and

 

 

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1 be it further
 
2     RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
3 presented to the family of Juanita Newell Cook as a symbol of
4 our sincere sympathy.