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PROPOSED RESOLUTION
HONORING THE LIFE AND WORK OF MARSHA LYNN COLE
WHEREAS, self-proclaimed social justice warrior Marsha Lynn Cole passed away far too soon on December 8, 2021; and
WHEREAS, Marsha was born September 10, 1954 to Beulah (nee White) Cole and Timothy Allen Cole. Marsha was raised in Evanston and married Blan Roger Wilson. They became parents to Kye Lynn Wilson and Cicely Lynn Fleming (Andrew). After her cousin Ardis Maupin passed, Marsha embraced her daughter, Jeanine Logan like her own; and
WHEREAS, Marsha was part of a family with deep roots in Evanston, including Samuel White, Jr., Marsha's grandfather, Democratic Party committeeman who served the 5th Ward when it was Evanston's only Democratic ward; Edna Summers, former Evanston 5th Ward alderwoman, township supervisor, and past president of the Evanston branch of the NAAACP; Michael Summers and Rochelle Whyte-Washington, both former 5th Ward aldermen; Jerome Summers, former member of the Evanston/Skokie District 65 School Board; and her daughter, Cicely Fleming, current 9th Ward alderwoman; and
WHEREAS, Marsha's grandfather was a political community organizer before the term was invented. He would take his nine grandchildren when he went door-to-door urging people to vote. As a teenager, Marsha became a young Black Panther. She understood that the fight against injustice is an ongoing battle and imbued that spirit in her children and grandchildren; and
WHEREAS, in recent years, Marsha became involved in Jane Addams Senior Caucus (JASC)/Jane Addams Seniors In Action by joining JASIA to elect Maria Hadden Alderman of the 49th ward. Since that moment, she became a powerful and inspirational force within the organization, serving on both boards and on the housing committee. Marsha was instrumental in passing the Senior Safety Ordinance; and
WHEREAS, her activism was often born of personal experience. When she was looking for subsidized senior housing, she was on twenty waiting lists an...
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