MEMORIAL RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, God in His infinite Wisdom has called Lula Mae Bronson "Madea", most beloved citizen, to her eternal reward on April 12, 2018; and
WHEREAS, This august body has been informed of her passing by the Honorable Emma Mitts, Alderman of the 37th Ward; and
WHEREAS, Born on September 7, 1936 in Turrell, Arkansas, Lula was the beloved daughter of the late James Edward Grice and the late Estella McGee. She was a proud graduate of William R. Golden School. Lula professed her faith in Jesus Christ and joined Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church. Later, she became a dedicated member of the New Mount Pilgram Missionary Baptist Church. She faithfully served as a mother of the church, a delegate of the Flower Committee and the Sanctuary Choir and worked in Sarah's Kitchen; and
WHEREAS, Lula was the pillar of the community and a well-respected activist. She helped organize her black and female co-workers at a private sector homecare agency and then moved on to organizing her fellow personal-assistants at the Department of Rehabilitation Services in Chicago and across the state of Illinois; and
WHEREAS, Lula was a pioneer and one of the first at her agency to join Local 880, which had only seven members back in 1983. She served in many capacities within the union for more than 20 years, starting as a rank and file member-organizer at her agency, then becoming a steward, a board member, an officer and finally, rising to Vice President; and
WHEREAS, A longtime effective leader of the Service Employees International Union Local 880, Lula and fellow officers were instrumental in the growth of over 70,000 homecare and childcare members across Illinois and became the largest union local in Chicago and the Midwest by the time of her retirement in 2007; and
WHEREAS, Lula leaves to cherish her memories; William Jr., Karen, Cavin, Sandra, Terry (Janet), Randy and Carol; sixteen grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren and two great-great grandchildren; sisters, Ora Hale (Calvin) and Vivian Freeman; brothers, James (Sandra) Isaac (Earnestine) and Leon (Annie) and a host of extended family and treasured friends. She leaves a legacy of faith, dignity and love; and
WHEREAS, Lula touched the lives of all who knew her through her unconditional love and vivacious spirit. She will be deeply missed, but the memory of her character and compassion will live on in those who knew and loved her; now, therefore
Be It Resolved, That we, the Mayor and Members of the City Council of the City of Chicago, assembled this twenty-third day of May, 2018, do hereby extend our heartfelt condolences to the family of Lula Mae Bronson; and
Be It Further Resolved, that a suitable copy ofthis resolution will be presented to the family of Lula Mae Bronson as a sign of our sympathy and good wishes.