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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

  
 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened 
3to learn of the death of Berta Louise Cowan Lightford of 
4Chicago, who passed away on October 23, 2022; and
  
 
5    WHEREAS, Berta Lightford was born to Andy Cowan Jr. and 
6Mary Frances Leslie Cowan in Huntsville, Alabama  on November 
719, 1925; she attended Springhill Grammar School and  Council 
8High School in Madison County, Alabama; she took welding 
9classes at A&M College during World War  II;  she married Eddie 
10Clifton Lightford on November 22, 1944, and they moved to 
11Chicago in 1946, raising their children there for 32 years; 
12and
  
 
13    WHEREAS, Berta Lightford worked at Redstone Arsenal, a 
14U.S. Army base, in Huntsville, Alabama; she became a housewife 
15after marriage, which she  loved as she and her husband were 
16very family oriented; and
  
 
17    WHEREAS, Berta Lightford volunteered as block club 
18president after becoming a widow; she then became a precinct 
19captain, joining two of her daughters in politics; and
  
 
20    WHEREAS, Berta Lightford was committed to her faith; she 
21grew up as  a member of the Springhill Methodist AME Church; she 
 
 
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1was later baptized at Mount Hebron Baptist Church in Chicago, 
2where she often attended services with her daughters; and
  
 
3    WHEREAS, Berta Lightford enjoyed entertaining her family, 
4traveling, fishing, watching soap operas, shopping, and 
5decorating her home; and
  
 
6    WHEREAS, Berta Lightford was known for living her life on 
7her own terms; she loved her family immensely and was 
8endlessly proud of them and their accomplishments, happily 
9sharing family stories with others; and
  
 
10    WHEREAS, Berta Lightford was preceded in death by her 
11parents; her husband; her grandfather, Andy Cowan Sr.; her 
12grandmother, Berta Timmons-Joyner Cowan; her cousin, Arthur 
13Love Sr.; her brother, James Daniel "JD" Cowan; her 
14brother-in-law, Ennis Lightford; and her best friend and 
15sister-in-law, Delia Fitcheard Lightford; and
  
 
16    WHEREAS, Berta Lightford is survived by her children, 
17Andrew Clark, Melvin (Barbara) Leon Sr., Carolyn (Paul), 
18Pamela Olivia, and Mamie Frances; her grandchildren, Carmelita  
19Patrice (Eric), Billy Arthur, Janon Monique, April Marie, 
20Kimberly Ann (Eric), Michael Clark, Pamela Delores, Melvin 
21(Sonya) Leon Jr., Curtis II, Carolyn Lightford, Jessica Lynn 
22(Zachary), and Darryl Stephen; her 21 great-grandchildren; her 
 
 
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112 great-great-grandchildren; her stepson, Arthur Lee 
2(Joanne); her nine step-grandchildren; her nephews, Lynn 
3Patrick Love and Virgil (Kathy) Blevins; a host of  nieces, 
4nephews, and cousins; her goddaughter, Deborah Ann Gamble; and 
5her friends, Linton Johnson, Maria Branch, Michael Owens, and 
6Curtis Owens Sr.; therefore, be it
  
 
7    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED SECOND GENERAL 
8ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of

9Berta Louise Cowan Lightford and extend our sincere

10condolences to her family, friends, and all who knew and loved

11her; and be it further
  
 
12    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be

13presented to the family of Berta Lightford as an expression of

14our deepest sympathy.