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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to
3learn of the death of Dr. Marie Wilkinson of Aurora, who passed
4away on August 12, 2010; and
 
5    WHEREAS, She was born May 6, 1909 in New Orleans, Louisiana
6as Marie LeBeau; she moved to Aurora in 1929 and married auto
7mechanic Charles Wilkinson three years later; she was known as
8the matriarch of Aurora and spent most of her 101 years giving
9back to the city she called home; she fed the hungry, clothed
10the poor, convinced politicians to enact fair laws, and fought
11for equal rights for everyone; and
 
12    WHEREAS, In 1961, she started the St. Vincent DePaul Center
13on Sard Avenue in Aurora with the help of St. Peter's Church;
14she also helped form the Quad County Urban League, Aurora's
15Human Relations Commission (which she chaired for 40 years),
16and the food pantry and child development center that bear her
17name; and
 
18    WHEREAS, She was a strong crusader for civil rights and
19worked with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and met Rosa Parks and
20Mamie Till-Mobley, the mother of Emmett Till; in 2001, she
21received the Lumen Christi Award, the Catholic Church's highest
22honor for missionary work; and
 

 

 

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1    WHEREAS, She was preceded in death by her parents, Charles
2and Maude (Robinson) La Beau; her husband, Charles Wilkinson;
3her son, Donald Wilkinson; her grandson, Craig Wilkinson; her
4brother, Edward La Beau, Sr.; her paternal grandparents, Robert
5and Lena Robinson; her maternal grandmother, Olympia Glapion;
6and her aunt and uncle, Arthur and Hazel Ogden; and
 
7    WHEREAS, Dr. Wilkinson is survived by her daughter, Sheila
8Scott-Wilkinson; her two granddaughters, Donna Wilkinson and
9Michelle Wilkinson; her great-grandson, Christopher Wilkinson;
10and a host of nieces, nephews, friends, and other relatives;
11therefore, be it
 
12    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL
13ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn, along with
14her family and friends, the passing of Dr. Marie Wilkinson; and
15be it further
 
16    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
17presented to the family of Dr. Marie Wilkinson as a symbol of
18our sincere sympathy.