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SENATE RESOLUTION


 
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    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to  
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learn of the death of
Anna R. Langford of Chicago; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Anna R. Langford was born to Arthur and Alice 
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Riggs on October 27, 1917 in Springfield, Ohio; she was the 
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youngest of three siblings; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Anna R. Langford was raised by her grandmother 
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after her parents died; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Anna R. Langford moved to Chicago in 1933 to live 
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with her aunt and uncle; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Anna R. Langford graduated from Hyde Park High 
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School and then attended the Washburn Trade School; and
 
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    WHEREAS, Anna R. Langford started her professional career 
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as a typist in the Social Security office; she then relocated 
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to the Election Commissioner's office, where she aided in 
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setting up a permanent registration system; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Anna R. Langford later worked for and managed the 
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old Secretary of State office on Cottage Grove Avenue in 
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Chicago; and

 
 


 






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    WHEREAS, Anna R. Langford married Larry Langford in 1947; 
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and

 
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    WHEREAS, Anna R. Langford attended John Marshall Law School 
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to become an attorney; while pursuing her goal, she had a son, 
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Larry Jr., in 1952; and
 
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    WHEREAS, Anna R. Langford moved with her family to the 
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Englewood neighborhood, integrating the 6000 block of Bishop 
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Street; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Anna R. Langford would later join Hope 
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Presbyterian Church; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Anna R. Langford was admitted to the Illinois Bar 
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in 1956; however, as a black attorney, she was refused office 
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space in downtown Chicago; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Anna R. Langford set up a neighborhood practice 
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and provided legal representation to the poor on matters 
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ranging from divorce to criminal defense to bankruptcy; and
 
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    WHEREAS, Anna R. Langford spent much of her time in the 
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1960s providing free legal services to the residents of 
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Mississippi, under dangerous conditions, as they sought to gain 
 


 






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voting rights; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Anna R. Langford worked closely with Dr. Martin 
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Luther King and a young Jesse Jackson to protest segregation 
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and discrimination in Chicago; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Anna R. Langford successfully challenged the 
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regular organization in 1971, winning the seat of Alderman of 
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the 16th Ward and becoming the first black female alderman in 
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the history of the Chicago City Council; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Anna R. Langford went on to serve three terms and 
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was an avid supporter of Mayor Harold Washington; and
 
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    WHEREAS, Anna R. Langford retired from the Chicago City 
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Council in 1991 but remained active in local politics, always 
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working to improve her beloved neighborhood of Englewood, where 
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she would spend the balance of her life; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Anna R. Langford has received many humanitarian 
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and civic awards and citations during her lifetime; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Anna R. Langford was called home to glory on 
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September 17, 2008; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Anna R. Langford was preceded in death by her 
 


 






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parents, Arthur and Alice Riggs, and her husband, Larry 
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Langford; and
 
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    WHEREAS, Anna R. Langford is survived by her son, Lawrence 
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W. Langford Jr., her grandchildren, Michael, Leslie, and Kris 
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Hicks, her step grandson, Richard Pegue, her daughter-in-law, 
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Marguerita, her great-grandson, Christopher; her niece, Cheryl 
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Williams; her nephew, Arlester Jones; and her long-time 
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friends, Nanny Ryan, Lillian Merrill, and Grace Edwards; 
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therefore, be it

 
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    RESOLVED, BY THE  SENATE OF THE NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL 
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ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn, along with 
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her family and friends, the passing of Anna R. Langford; and be 
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it further

 
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    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
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presented to the family of Anna R. Langford as an expression of 
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our sympathy.