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SENATE RESOLUTION


 
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    WHEREAS, The members of the Senate of the State of Illinois 
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learned with sadness of the death of Gwendolyn Blackburn on 
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April 8, 2005; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Gwendolyn Blackburn was born Gwendolyn Sharlita 
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Finch on January 15, 1935, to Marie M. Finch and John L. Finch; 
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and

 
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    WHEREAS, Gwendolyn Blackburn was the fourth child, joining 
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eldest sibling Gloria (Moseberry); her brother, John, Jr.; and 
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her sister, Anita (Wright); and

 
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    WHEREAS, Gwendolyn Blackburn, in her formative years, 
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attended Edmund Burke Elementary School, A.O. Sexton 
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Elementary, and Englewood High School; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Gwendolyn Blackburn married Clifton H. Blackburn 
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on February 17, 1953; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Gwendolyn Blackburn was a sales associate for 
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Archway Cookies and Parker House Sausages; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Gwendolyn Blackburn was a den mother for the Cub 
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Scouts and a 4-H leader; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Gwendolyn Blackburn attended cosmetology school 
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and Teachers College; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Gwendolyn Blackburn was a freelance demonstrator 
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for Jesse Owens Marketing; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Gwendolyn Blackburn was the owner of Ask Gwen 
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Bridal for 20 years, the first black woman in the bridal 
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business in Chicago, and she ran several businesses from home, 
 


 






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including event planning, catering, clothing design, antiques, 
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and collectibles; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Gwendolyn Blackburn was active in the civil rights 
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movement having been an organizer for the March on Washington; 
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and

 
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    WHEREAS, Gwendolyn Blackburn was a teacher in the Freedom 
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School, teaching black family values to our youth; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Gwendolyn Blackburn was the loving wife and proud 
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mother of three independent thinking sons, Kahil, Chelton, and 
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Cherman; the doting grandmother to her ten grandchildren; a 
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mother to countless young women; and a role model to all who 
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came within her beguiling ways; therefore, be it

 
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    RESOLVED, BY THE  SENATE OF THE NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL 
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ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of 
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Gwendolyn Blackburn, and we extend our sincerest condolences to 
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her friends, family, and community; and be it further

 
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    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
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presented to her family as an expression of our deepest 
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sympathy.