HR0812 98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0812 LRB098 17393 MST 52492 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are saddened to learn of the death of Earlean Lindsey of Chicago, who passed away on January 8, 2014; and

WHEREAS, Earlean Lindsey was born on August 4, 1925 in Sawyerville, Alabama to Willie "Bo" and Ethel Taylor; she spent her early years in rural Alabama and moved to Chicago in 1946; she married Bernard Lindsey in 1952; following his passing in 1981, she married Robert Calhoun; and

WHEREAS, Earlean Lindsey's early jobs were in the domestic and restaurant industry, but in 1959 she moved to the Westside of Chicago and began a career as a community organizer; she was one of the founders of the Westside Association for Community Action, where she was elected President for life; she was a founder and board member emeritus for the Center for New Horizons, an original member of the University of Illinois Urban Health Program Advisory Council, founding member of the University of Illinois Comprehensive Sickle Cell Center's Community Advisory Council, former President of the Heritage Manor, and a founding member of the Chicago Commons Association's Jackie Robinson House; and

WHEREAS, Earlean Lindsey was a strong advocate for education; she was active with Malcolm X College in its early years and was a former member of Chicago Public School District 9's local school council; she was a past board member of the Corporate Community Schools of America; and

WHEREAS, Earlean Lindsey was also passionate about healthcare; she was one of the pioneers in the advent of Community Health Centers and served on a committee for President John F. Kennedy's Commission on Community Mental Health Centers; during the 1960s and 1970s she gave workshops and seminars on community health and organizing across the United States and abroad, and she was one of the first Presidents of the National Association of Community Health Centers; she was an original member of the Mile Square Federation and one of the founders of the Mile Square Health Center; and

WHEREAS, Earlean Lindsey received numerous awards and recognitions for her community service and leadership; most notably, she was recognized in the United States House of Representatives for her community service in 1998, and the City of Chicago dedicated the street corner of Damen and Washington as "Mrs. Lindsey Drive" in her honor; and

WHEREAS, Earlean Lindsey was a member of Pilgrim Rest Missionary Baptist Church on the Westside of Chicago for 55 years; and

WHEREAS, Earlean Lindsey was preceded in death by her parents; her step-mother, Vileter Taylor; her children, Earl, Ethel, Donald, and Michael; her grandchild, Cletus; her step-child, Bernard, Jr.; her brothers, Frank, Robert, Jacob, Richard, Curtis, Carlton, R.L., Joseph, and Edward; and her first and second husbands Bernard and Robert; and

WHEREAS, Earlean Lindsey is survived by her daughters, Janice, Pamela, and Patricia (Leroy); her sons, Leroy, Garnell, and Marvin (Beverly); her Godson, Johnny Brown; her brothers, Willie, Jimmie (Hazel), James, Luke (Mary), and Henry (Mamie); her sisters, Annie Pearl (Joe Lee) and Leslie; her 20 grandchildren; her dozens of great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren; and countless nieces, nephews, and friends; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Earlean Lindsey, and 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 Earlean Lindsey as an expression of our deepest sympathy.