SR0707 98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0707 LRB098 15034 MST 49994 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Deverra Beverly of Chicago; and

WHEREAS, Deverra Beverly served the City of Chicago for over 30 years in the Department of Human Services; after retiring in 1997, she was elected to the first of numerous public housing resident leadership positions; she was the President of the Chicago Housing Authority's ABLA Homes Local Advisory Council, Vice-Chairman of the Central Advisory Council (CAC) from 2002 to 2008, interim CAC Chair from 2008 to 2009, and CAC Treasurer in 2009; on July 22, 2009, Mayor Richard M. Daley appointed her as a Commissioner on the Board of Commissioners; and

WHEREAS, Deverra Beverly emphasized the importance of teamwork, relationship building, and openness; she touched countless lives with the summer youth employment and after-school programs she championed; she lobbied for bringing in new construction jobs, tax assistance for seniors, sustainable "green" initiatives, and "safe passage" routes to combat violence and street gangs; and

WHEREAS, Deverra Beverly's commitment to the betterment of public housing was based on her having called public housing home her entire life; she and her family moved into the Brooks Homes section of the ABLA housing development in 1943; she made the four housing projects of ABLA - the Jane Addams Homes, the Robert Brooks Homes, Loomis Courts, and the Grace Abbott Homes - known to the world by engaging national philanthropists like Brad Pitt's Make it Right Foundation and attracting the motion picture "Hardball" to film in her community; she joyfully extended hospitality annually for 30 years at the ABLA Day picnics, which brought together the residents of ABLA with Aldermen, the Mayor, police, and other city officials; and

WHEREAS, As public housing buildings began to be torn down, Deverra Beverly led efforts to protect the last remaining building of the Jane Addams Homes; she envisioned transforming the building into a place to memorialize, teach, and create a new cultural commitment to the future of public housing; over the course of a decade, her efforts let to the creation of the National Public Housing Museum in 2007; and

WHEREAS, Deverra Beverly was preceded in death by her parents, Clyde Archibald and Priscilla Foster; her husband, William Pickens; her daughter, Christine Beverly; her son, Eugene Beverly; and her grandson, Keith Rawls; and

WHEREAS, Deverra Beverly is survived by her sons, Kenneth, Levert, Melvin, and William; her sisters, Rosetta and Mary Lou; her 13 grandchildren; and a host of great-grandchildren; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Deverra Beverly, 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 Deverra Beverly as an expression of our deepest sympathy and in recognition of all she has contributed to the people of the ABLA Homes.