Speaker Welch to Honor Legacy of Cook County Clerk Karen Yarbrough
WESTCHESTER, Ill. – On Thursday Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch will lead the Illinois House in a celebration of the life and legacy of former Maywood Representative and Cook County Clerk Karen Yarbrough who passed away on Sunday.
“I’m heartbroken to hear about the passing of Clerk Karen Yarbrough and I want to extend my deepest condolences to her family and all who loved her,” Speaker Welch said. “The state of Illinois got to know Karen as a trailblazer and a tenacious advocate with a remarkable legacy. Serving our west suburban community together for more than two decades, I was lucky enough to see her generosity, kindness, and the way she fiercely loved her family and friends, too. Our entire community mourns this loss and Karen will be deeply missed, but I know her spirit will always remain a guiding force.”
Yarbrough was a fixture in state and local politics and was Cook County’s first African American and female clerk. A long-time resident of Maywood, Yarbrough served Proviso Township communities in the Illinois House from 2001 until 2011, successfully passing key pieces of legislation banning the death penalty in Illinois and smoking in public places. Welch succeeded Yarbrough in the House when she won countywide office.
The family of Cook County Clerk Karen Yarbrough announced plans for a memorial service for Sunday, April 14 at 3 p.m. at the Rockefeller Chapel on the campus of the University of Chicago.
