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PROPOSED RESOLUTION
CELEBRATING THE 100TH BIRTHDAY OF ROSA J. MARTIN
WHEREAS, Rosa J. Martin (affectionately known as “Mama Rosa”) of Chicago, Illinois celebrated her 100th birthday surrounded by friends and family; and
WHEREAS, Rosa was born on September 18, 1915 in Carroll County, Mississippi. Her birth certificate does not indicate a particular health facility or hospital; and
WHERAS, Rosa along with two brothers and a sister were orphaned at an early age, separated out of economic necessity with she and a brother being raised by her aunt and uncle Tim and Minnie McCain in Teoc, Mississippi; and
WHEREAS, Rosa was one of the first students at Mississippi Valley State College; official records of the Carroll County School Board reflect that Rosa taught in two one-room school houses, Valley View and Ware, during the early 1950’s; and from 1953 to 1957 she taught at Marshall Elementary School where she had a reputation for being a strict disciplinarian. Rosa stated that failure was not an option for her, her brother and the students under her tutelage; and
WHEREAS, when she administered corporal punishment, according to her son Bennie Martin, if you were smart, it only happened once, to which he cannot bear witness, but can assure you twice was extremely convincing. She also coached the girls basketball team at the high school level; and
WHEREAS, Rosa came to Chicago in 1957 and became a licensed practical nurse at Cook County Hospital (now known as John H. Stroger, Jr. Hospital); and
WHEREAS, Rosa has nine children; Charity, George, Robert, Bennie, Leona, Henry, Betty, John and Lona; twenty-three, grandchildren, twenty-nine great-grandchildren and a host of great-great grandchildren; and
WHEREAS, Rosa worked as a political activist, with past Cook County Board President George Dunne, former Alderman Bill Singer, and served as an Election Judge for the Cook County Board of Elections Rosa worked as a Legal Assistant in the Law Office of Benjamin E. Martin and was a tax preparer for many years in her north side neighborhood; and
WHEREAS, in the late 1960’s and early 1970’s Rosa was one of the founding members of an organization called “ The United Friends” which was a low income housing development in the 1300 and 1400 block of North Cleveland Avenue; and
WHEREAS, along with her teaching responsibility Rosa also drove a bus that transported kids to school, she made extraordinary contribution to assist those less fortunate which was her life’s mission; and
WHEREAS, Rosa’s favorite sayings was “Don’t let your wooden God or corn stalk Jesus fool you, I will slap you happy and dare you to shout”; and
WHEREAS, Rosa is truly a remarkable woman and mother, who holds the value of motherhood at the top of her list, she has set an example that still continues to be set by her family today; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the President and Board of Commissioners of Cook County congratulate Rosa J. Martin on the occasion of her 100th birthday.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that this text is spread upon the official proceedings of this Honorable Body and a suitable copy of same be tendered to Rosa J. Martin.
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