SR0253 95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0253 LRB095 12475 KXB 37623 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Gertrude "Cookie" Wright of Chicago, who passed away on June 8, 2007; and

WHEREAS, Gertrude "Cookie" Wright was born March 21, 1942 in Woodstock, Tennessee to the late Jack and Susie Rodgers; she was baptized at an early age at the Campbell Chapel AME Church of Woodstock where she sang in the choir with many of her immediate family members; she graduated from Woodstock High School where she was also crowned Miss Woodstock High School during her senior year; and

WHEREAS, Gertrude Wright later moved to Chicago, where she graduated from Olive Harvey College Nursing School with a Registered Nursing degree; she worked as a nurse at the Hyde Park Hospital of Chicago; she also provided private duty nursing for seniors; she later joined the Sure-Way Missionary Baptist Church of Chicago where she served faithfully within the women's ministry; and

WHEREAS, Gertrude Wright was the first person in her immediate family to be elected to public office; she was elected to two four-year terms as a member of the local school council in Chicago and was instrumental in the election victories of the late Mayor of Chicago Harold Washington and current Illinois Senate President Emil Jones Jr.; and

WHEREAS, Gertrude Wright was preceded in death by her parents and her loving sister, Bobbie Jean Carpenter; and

WHEREAS, Gertrude H. Wright is survived by her husband, Malvin Wright; her sons, Sean Tere (Kathy) Howard and Otheius B. Wright; her sisters, Charlie (Mack) Reed, LaVerne (Ezell) Williams, Cecil (Alonzo) Mitchell, Bishop Bettye (Neasbie) Alston, and Shirley R. Hill; her brothers, Jackie Ray (Nellie) Rodgers and Jessie L. Rodgers; and her eight grandchildren; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn, along with her family and friends, the passing of Gertrude H. "Cookie" Wright; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Gertrude "Cookie" Wright as a symbol of our sympathy.