WHEREAS, On Monday, February 19, 2015, the Almighty God, in His infinite wisdom called Alderman JoAnn Thompson to her eternal journey; and
WHEREAS, The Chicago City Council has been informed of her passing by the Honorable Lona Lane, Alderman of the 18th Ward; and
WHEREAS, JoAnn was born on September 18, 1956 in Chicago, Illinois to Exlean Gosa and Thomas Fowler; and
WHEREAS, at a young age, she married Joseph (Ricky) Thompson and to this union three children were born; Joseph, Melanie and Latrece Thompson; and
WHEREAS, upon completing her educational goals, JoAnn joined the Cook County Sheriffs department in 1995. During her tenure with the Sheriffs Department, Joann served as a Corrections Officer, working her way up the ranks as a Sergeant and later becoming a Lieutenant. JoAnn left the Sheriff's Department to seek a political career to better serve the people of Chicago; and
WHEREAS, on May 21, 2007, JoAnn was inaugurated as the 54th Alderman of the 16th Ward. JoAnn's belief that, the prosperity of a community is expressed by the advancement of it's people, pushed her to fight for the improvement of the 16th Ward and implement measures that will ensure the success of the 16th Ward. JoAnn's due diligence and insight to the future won her a second term as the Alderman. She fought up until her last days. She believed in putting the needs of her constituents first. The seeds of her labor will produce an abundance of fruit for generations to come; and
WHEREAS, JoAnn was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Joseph Thompson; parents, Exlean Gosa and Thomas Fowler; sisters, Naomi Mayfield, Kitty Mae Ware and LaRose Ellis; and leaves behind, to cherish her precious memories, her son Joseph; daughters, Melanie and Latrece; grandchildren, DeVonte Thompson, Jessica Gines, Jerrika Gines, Ernest Gibson and Maiyah Carlo; step-father, Birdsee Gosa; brother, Alfred Ellis; sisters, Elaine Poole, Janett Henderson (Rev. Clifford Henderson) and Clemteen Hunt; an aunt, a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, friends, colleagues and her 16th Ward family; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED, that we, the Mayor and members of the City Council of the City of Chicago, gathered here in assembly this eighteenth day of March 2015 A.D., do hereby express our sorrow on the passing of Alderman JoAnn Thompson and extend to her family and friends our deepest sympathy; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a suitable copy of this resolution be prepared and presented to the family of Alderman JoAnn Thompson.
Alderman, 18mWard
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