Bill Text: IL HR0354 | 2023-2024 | 103rd General Assembly | Introduced
Bill Title: Mourns the passing of Audrey Mason Brookins.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Passed) 2023-10-24 - Resolution Adopted [HR0354 Detail]
Download: Illinois-2023-HR0354-Introduced.html
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| 1 | HOUSE RESOLUTION
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| 2 | WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of | ||||||
| 3 | Representatives are saddened to learn of the death of Audrey | ||||||
| 4 | Mason Brookins, who passed away on June 5, 2023; and
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| 5 | WHEREAS, Audrey Brookins was born to Roy and Johnnie Mae | ||||||
| 6 | Mason in St. Louis, Missouri on June 2, 1936; she was raised in | ||||||
| 7 | East St. Louis; she attended Sumner High School in St. Louis, | ||||||
| 8 | where her passion for music flourished, and she showcased her | ||||||
| 9 | talent in several local recitals, including accompanying her | ||||||
| 10 | friend and known classical vocalist, Grace Bumbry, on the | ||||||
| 11 | Arthur Godfrey television show; she attended Scholes Teachers | ||||||
| 12 | College; she relocated to Chicago in 1954, where she continued | ||||||
| 13 | to nurture her creative spirit both at home and in her church | ||||||
| 14 | community; she married Howard Brookins at Gorham United | ||||||
| 15 | Methodist Church in 1958; and
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| 16 | WHEREAS, Audrey Brookins worked at Science Research | ||||||
| 17 | Associates (SRA) and Commonwealth Edison; she was noted for | ||||||
| 18 | her incredible talent in business administration, and she was | ||||||
| 19 | a skilled typist at 100 words per minute; and
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| 20 | WHEREAS, Audrey Brookins and Howard embarked on a | ||||||
| 21 | remarkable journey, becoming community organizers at Operation | ||||||
| 22 | Breadbasket, now known as Operation PUSH, successful business | ||||||
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| 1 | owners, and influential figures in state politics in Illinois; | ||||||
| 2 | her unwavering support and commitment were instrumental in her | ||||||
| 3 | husband's political career in the Illinois House of | ||||||
| 4 | Representatives and Senate, and they worked together to forge | ||||||
| 5 | new paths for future leaders; she was the rock and foundation | ||||||
| 6 | that propelled Howard forward, both as a politician and a | ||||||
| 7 | business owner, standing beside him with dedication and zeal; | ||||||
| 8 | and
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| 9 | WHEREAS, Audrey Brookins, who generally possessed a calm | ||||||
| 10 | demeanor, was known for her liveliness and enthusiasm when | ||||||
| 11 | pursuing her artistic endeavors; she crafted floral | ||||||
| 12 | arrangements, annual Easter baskets, handsewn dresses, and | ||||||
| 13 | delectable baked goods, including her renowned dinner rolls, | ||||||
| 14 | Christmas cookies, rum balls, and fruit cakes; she generously | ||||||
| 15 | shared her culinary talents, passing down her famous homemade | ||||||
| 16 | waffle batter recipe to her children and grandchildren and | ||||||
| 17 | often surprising loved ones with containers of batter and | ||||||
| 18 | treats; in her later years, she enjoyed creating bitmojis and | ||||||
| 19 | sending inspirational messages through her phone, dispatching | ||||||
| 20 | text messages to over 90 people every morning; and
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| 21 | WHEREAS, As the oldest among her sisters and cousins, | ||||||
| 22 | Audrey Brookins took on the role of guardian, ensuring the | ||||||
| 23 | well-being of her family with grace, elegance, and a nurturing | ||||||
| 24 | spirit; she loved upholding family traditions and cherished | ||||||
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| 1 | making sentimental moments with loved ones; and
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| 2 | WHEREAS, Audrey Brookins was a remarkable woman who left | ||||||
| 3 | an indelible mark on the hearts and lives of those who were | ||||||
| 4 | fortunate enough to know her; she will be remembered as a | ||||||
| 5 | beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and | ||||||
| 6 | pillar of her community whose legacy of love, dedication, and | ||||||
| 7 | unwavering support will continue to inspire generations to | ||||||
| 8 | come; and
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| 9 | WHEREAS, Audrey Brookins was preceded in death by her | ||||||
| 10 | sister, Barbara Jean Behm; and
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| 11 | WHEREAS, Audrey Brookins is survived by her husband, | ||||||
| 12 | Howard B. Brookins Sr.; her sisters, Marian Jackson and | ||||||
| 13 | Beatrice "Bea" Sockwell; her children, Andrea Lynette (Norval) | ||||||
| 14 | Brookins Brown, Howard B. (Ebonie) Brookins Jr., Ronda Jean | ||||||
| 15 | (Kevin) Behm Brookins Williams, and Cheryl Ann Buckner; her | ||||||
| 16 | grandchildren, Christopher E. Brown, Christopher G. Britto, | ||||||
| 17 | Porsche (Robert) Buckner Snowden, Crystal (Julius) Brown | ||||||
| 18 | Garrant, Arifa Brookins Hinton, Gregory Howard Brookins | ||||||
| 19 | Hinton, Howard B. Brookins III, Kyli Bijai Marie Williams, | ||||||
| 20 | Kevin Matthew Williams, and Harihson B. Brookins; nine | ||||||
| 21 | great-grandchildren; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, | ||||||
| 22 | and close friends; therefore, be it
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| 1 | RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE | ||||||
| 2 | HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that | ||||||
| 3 | we mourn the passing of Audrey Mason Brookins and extend our | ||||||
| 4 | sincere condolences to her family, friends, and all who knew | ||||||
| 5 | and loved her; and be it further
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| 6 | RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be | ||||||
| 7 | presented to the family of Audrey Brookins as an expression of | ||||||
| 8 | our deepest sympathy.
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