SR1428 100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR1428 LRB100 20876 MST 36376 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Rosemary Robinson Jackson Ph.D. of Chicago, who passed away on February 7, 2018; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Jackson was born on Chicago's West Side on December 22, 1946; she received her Ph.D. from Loyola University and a Master of Arts from both the National College of Education and DePaul University; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Jackson began her career as an English teacher at her alma mater, John Marshall High School; she went on to teach at Hyde Park High School, Kennedy-King College, and DePaul University; she served as vice president for Educational Media and Distance Learning at Kennedy-King from 2007 to 2010; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Jackson was the vice chairman and chief administrative officer at Chicago-based Central City Productions, which she helped develop with her lifelong partner and husband, Don Jackson; she served as Research Director and Associate Producer of the Black College Quiz and the Hispanic College Quiz - two nationally-syndicated television programs developed by Central City Productions; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Jackson remained active in her local community and was committed to public service through her sorority, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. for which she chaired several committees during her 50-year tenure as an active member, and which her daughter, Rhonda, is an active member today; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Jackson's professional memberships included the National Council of Teachers of English, the National Association for Developmental Education, the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (SAALH), and Phi Beta Kappa; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Jackson was an avid sports fan; she loved tennis, basketball, baseball, and football; she was also a devotee of the arts and all types of dancing including Bopping, Stepping, and Line Dancing; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Jackson is survived by her beloved husband of 52 years, Don; her mother, Rosalie Gray; her siblings, Carrie Murphy, Erma Gray Davis (Dan), and Calvin Gray (Ruth); her daughter, Rhonda Jackson Sams (Ray); her son, Baba Dainja; her grandchildren, Donovan, Dain, and Riley Rose; and numerous nieces, nephews, and friends; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDREDTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Rosemary Robinson Jackson Ph.D., and 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 Dr. Jackson as an expression of our deepest sympathy.