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PROPOSED RESOLUTION
HONORING ALICE ELIZABETH DANDRIDGE-TURNER
WHEREAS, Alice Elizabeth Dandridge-Turner was born to Berry and Sarah Dandridge on December 25, 1919 in Memphis, Tennessee. She celebrated her 100th birthday on Christmas Day 2019; and
WHEREAS, Alice received her early education at home from her mother and father, and her religious training from her aunt, Ms. Hattie Bradley, at New Sardis Missionary Baptist Church. She attended elementary school at McKinney School where her teacher Nellie Roberts soon recognized her special talents. Both Ms. Bradley and Ms. Roberts placed her in leadership positions in school to help her understand her potential; and
WHEREAS, Alice subsequently attended LeMoyne College, now LeMoyne-Owen College, in Memphis Tennessee, Lane College in Jackson, Tennessee and Wilberforce University in Dayton, Ohio where she graduated Cum Laude. She later attended Chicago Teacher’s College in Chicago, where she worked toward a master’s degree in Education; and
WHEREAS, as a young person, Alice participated in Sunday School, Baptist Young People’s Union, Sunshine Band, and the Children’s Choir at New Sardis M.B. Church. As she matured, she accepted the Lord Jesus Christ and joined the church in the days when everyone had to kneel at the “Mourner’s Bench” and confess their sins in order to accept the Lord as their savior. She was then baptized in a gravel pit filled with rain water on the side of the road because their church had been burned to the ground. It was reported that the church was burned because the leaders couldn’t raise enough money to pay the note on the church. Eventually, her father who was a deacon and others raised enough money to build another church; and
WHEREAS, Alice comes from a long line of strong and generous women. Her mother Sarah Dandridge lived to be 101 years old. Her father’s mother Vinnie Dandridge lived to 105. Her mother served on the Mother’s Board of New Sardis M.B. Church where she worked with the children in the church instilling in Alice a love of children and the desire to better their lives through education. She credits her mother with teaching her how to serve others; and
WHEREAS, Alice moved to Chicago and married Rev. Clifton H. Turner, Sr. Together they raised three children: Clifton, Jr. (now deceased), Deborah A. Turner, and Móna S. Turner. Alice taught for forty-three years, more than half of those at Delano Elementary School, located in the school now known as Genevieve Melody Public School on Chicago’s West side. She retired in 1993; and
WHEREAS, Alice lived in Chicago on the West Side during the riots that followed Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s assassination. She remembers a long, scary night and driving around the city the next day, seeing much destruction and smelling the smoke, a painful reminder of how far she had come, but not yet far enough; and
WHEREAS, Alice is a published poet. She loves to write and sponsored an annual Essay Writing Contests at Delano Elementary School where she taught. This contest was recognized by the Chicago Defender Newspaper, Chicago’s first Black newspaper. They noted that Alice was an educator who motivated children to write and to use their creativity constructively while rewarding them for their efforts; and
WHEREAS, Alice has lived a life of kindness and grace. She currently belongs to Springfield Baptist Church in Evanston, Illinois where she followed her mother’s footsteps and joined the Mother’s Board, eventually becoming President of the board. She believes strongly in the importance of religious training and worked many summers in the church’s Vacation Bible School. She is an active member of the Missionary Society and continues to visit nursing homes, feed the hungry, and clothe those in need; and
WHEREAS, Alice continues to be active in the Foster Senior Club where she is a “Golden Girl.” The Golden Girls meet weekly for good clean Christian fun. There are lots of laughs and a little BINGO. There are field trips and other activities. Every year she participates in the large Fund-Raiser Fashion Show; and
WHEREAS, Alice continues to Thank and Praise the Lord for the love he has shown her, allowing her to live 100 years and to accomplish all the things she has done. He has allowed her to experience history from being with her Grandmother who shared her experiences as a slave to seeing Barack Obama elected as the first Black President of the United States. Her faith in God remains strong and she encourages young people to follow Jesus as their leader. Everything will work out right because he will always be with them.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Commissioners of Cook County, on behalf of the 5.2 million residents of Cook County celebrates the life of Alice Elizabeth Dandridge-Turner, and herewith expresses its sincere gratitude for the invaluable contributions she has made to the Citizens of Cook County, Illinois; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a suitable copy of this Resolution be spread upon the official proceedings of this Honorable Body and that an official copy of the same be tendered to Alice Elizabeth Dandridge-Turner and her family.
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