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1 SENATE RESOLUTION
2 WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened
3 to learn of the death of Cook County Clerk Karen A. Yarbrough,
4 who passed away on April 7, 2024; and
5 WHEREAS, Clerk Yarbrough was born on August 22, 1950; she
6 earned an undergraduate degree in business management from
7 Chicago State University and a master's degree in inner city
8 studies from Northeastern Illinois University; she married
9 Henderson Yarbrough; and
10 WHEREAS, At the time of her passing, Clerk Yarbrough was
11 serving her second term as Clerk of Cook County; she was first
12 elected in 2018, becoming the first woman and first African
13 American to hold the office; during her tenure, she oversaw
14 elections in suburban Cook County and maintained the county's
15 vital records, such as birth, marriage, civil union, and death
16 certificates; she also assumed all duties of the Cook County
17 Recorder of Deeds Office when the position was eliminated in
18 2020; and
19 WHEREAS, Clerk Yarbrough previously served as Cook County
20 Recorder of Deeds from December 2012 to 2018; prior to that,
21 she served as State Representative of Illinois' 7th District
22 from 2001 until 2012, representing parts of the western
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1 suburbs of Chicago; and
2 WHEREAS, Clerk Yarbrough was active in the Democratic
3 Party, working for both the Cook County Democratic Party and
4 the Democratic Party of Illinois; she served as a
5 committeeperson, representing west suburban Proviso Township,
6 and treasurer for the former and as a member of the State
7 Central Committee for the latter; and
8 WHEREAS, Clerk Yarbrough also worked as a licensed real
9 estate broker and was the founder of the Hathaway Insurance
10 Agency; and
11 WHEREAS, Clerk Yarbrough was a dedicated public servant
12 and a tireless legislator, serving in public office for more
13 than two decades; she will be remembered as a trailblazer who
14 inspired others through her work and dedication to Cook County
15 and the State of Illinois; therefore, be it
16 RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL
17 ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of
18 Cook County Clerk Karen A. Yarbrough and extend our sincere
19 condolences to her family, friends, and all who knew and loved
20 her; and be it further
21 RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
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