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PROPOSED RESOLUTION
HONORING ROSIE L. PETERSON
WHEREAS, Rosie L. Peterson was born on March 7, 1937 in Ripley, Mississippi to Joe Peterson and Judy Adams, a farmer and homemaker respectively, as one of eleven children; and
WHEREAS, a young Rosie and her family moved to Middleton, Tennessee near the end of Great Depression; and
WHEREAS, Ms. Peterson attended school part-time in order to help family tend the farm during the lean years of World War II; and
WHEREAS, at age 18, Ms. Peterson joined the Great Northern Migration of Black Americans moving to Chicago where Ms. Peterson worked in housekeeping at McCormick Place, as a senior care worker and domestic home worker for several families. In the late 1990’s, Ms. Peterson, transitioned to a job in security for the city of Chicago’s Department of General Services, where she worked until she retired in 2008; and
WHEREAS, Ms. Peterson was a force of nature, strong willed, fiercely independent as head of her household, and caring and protective mother; and
WHEREAS, Ms. Peterson had three children: Terry, Diann and Tyrone. Ms. Peterson used her own lifelong experience of hard work and love of family as the guiding light in her children’s lives. Ms. Peterson instilled middle-class values of the importance of discipline, cleanliness, hard work and respect in her children; and
WHEREAS, Ms. Peterson was a fun-loving person who hosted big holiday dinners and weekend sleepovers for her nieces and nephews. Ms. Peterson was an exceptional cook, and prepared grand feasts for her family, neighbors, and friends; and
WHEREAS, Ms. Peterson enjoyed playing cards, dancing, and was a passionate fan of Chicago Blues music, which included many big artists who shared similar roots in Mississippi as her. Ms. Peterson’s favorite artists included B.B. King, Muddy Waters, and Howlin’ Wolf. She was also fond of Al Green and Aretha Franklin; and
WHEREAS, Ms. Peterson passed away on March 12, 2021 in Chicago, Illinois; and
WHEREAS, Ms. Peterson is survived by her three children, Terry Peterson, Diann (Corhn) Peterson and Tyrone Peterson; five sisters, Betty Woods, Johnnie Thompson, Bobby White, Charlene Beecher, and Grace Baity; Junior Jeans; and a multitude of nieces, nephews and friends; and
WHEREAS, Ms. Peterson was a cherished resident, neighbor, and friend of the 17th Ward and 3rd Cook County District; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that I, BILL LOWRY, COOK COUNTY COMMISSIONER of the 3rd DISTRICT, and I, JOHN DALEY, COOK COUNTY COMMISSIONER of the 11th DISTRICT, do hereby jointly stand, and salute the life of Rosie L. Peterson; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, a suitable copy of this Resolution will be presented to the family of Rosie L. Peterson.
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution will be filed within the Offices of Cook County Commissioners Bill Lowry 3rd District and John Daley 11th District