HR0195 98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0195 LRB098 11555 MST 43833 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are saddened to learn of the death of Katie Bell Jackson-Booker who passed away on March 22, 2013; and

WHEREAS, Katie Jackson-Booker was born on September 7, 1941, in Natchez, Mississippi, to Charles and Mary Russell Green; she spent her early years in Mississippi and attended Mississippi Valley State and Alcorn University; she married Fred Jackson Jr. in June 1958 and the family moved to Dixmoor in September of 1962; her first union did not work out and in December 1978 she married Melvin Booker; and

WHEREAS, Katie Jackson-Booker spent over 37 years working for the Cook County Health Systems; she retired in 2010 having achieved the position of hospital health administrator; after retirement, she continued to work with civic organizations such as Roseland Cease Fire, Chicago Public Schools Safe Passage program, and Nehemiah Restoration Coalition; and

WHEREAS, Katie Jackson-Booker had a long history of dedicated community service; she was active with groups such as PLO, Lunch Moms, Cub Scouts, and Dixmoor Little League; she served as president of the local American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) council at Oak Forest Hospital; she became an active member of the Thornton Township Regular Democratic Organization and participated in its annual Thanksgiving dinner each year; in 2011, she was named one of their "Women of the Year" along with other such distinguished women including Attorney General Lisa Madigan and Cook County Commissioner Deborah Simms; and

WHEREAS, Katie Jackson-Booker was elected to the board of education for West Harvey-Dixmoor School District 147 and served for over 40 years; she was also a trustee for South Suburban College District 510 for the last 19 years; she was deeply committed to public education and served as chair of the Black Caucus of the National School Board Association; she was an active member of the National Association of Black School Educators and the Illinois and National School Board Associations; and

WHEREAS, Katie Jackson-Booker was affectionately known as "Momma B" or "Ma Booker"; she was a gifted chef, loved to travel, and was an inaugural member of St. Marks Missionary Baptist Church; she received numerous awards and recognitions throughout her life including having Vail Street in Harvey renamed in her honor in 2012 and being named an Eastern Star member of the St. John Lodge Queen of Sheba Chapter; and

WHEREAS, Katie Jackson-Booker was preceded in death by her father, Charles Green; her mother, Mary Savier; her son, Kelvin Trent; her husband, Melvin Booker; her extended family of Jackie Harris, Allison Hall, and Robert Jones; her granddaughter, Salissa; and her cousin, Maurice Stewart; and

WHEREAS, Katie Jackson-Booker is survived by her children, Bobby (Renita), Gregory (Sharon), Marrion (Benard), Reginald (Barbara), Melvin Leander, and Sheila (aka Diane) O'Bryant; her grandchildren, Tiffane (Kelly), Justin, Imani, Christopher, DeAndrea, John, Makayla, Marna, Megan, Matthew, Chalessa, Michela, Charles, and Derrick; her great-grandchildren, Kameron, Katelyn, Kelly Jr., and Khalila; and her extended family, Makayla, Velma (aka Rose) Jackson, Gladyse (Bernard) Taylor, Michael, Steven, and Robbyn Hall, DeLeon (Leshia) Duckworth, Mary (Kaiser) Wright, Della Patterson, Dorothy Jones, Clara Henry, Maurice Ricardo, and Effrem Contrel Stewart; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Katie Jackson-Booker, and we extend our sincere condolences to her family, friends and all who knew and loved her; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Katie Jackson-Booker as an expression of our deepest sympathy.