MEMORIAL RESOLUTION FOR MATTIE L. GATES
WHEREAS, Almighty God, in his infinite wisdom and judgment, has called to eternal rest Mattie L. Gates; and
WHEREAS, This august body has been informed of her passing by the Honorable Carrie M. Austin, Alderman of the 34th Ward and Chairman of the Committee on Budget and Government Operations; and
WHEREAS, Born on February 7, 1928, to loving parents, the late Julia Brisker and Douglas Hurt, Mattie was raised in Penfield, Georgia, along with her four siblings. Mattie would recall that one of her fondest childhood memories was cooking in the kitchen with her grandma. Mattie shelled peas, picked string beans, and learned to make cakes from scratch. These were the roots of what would become a lifelong love of cooking; and
WHEREAS, As a young woman, Mattie, and three of her siblings, were a part of this country's great migration that brought thousands of African Americans from the south to settle in communities on Chicago's south side. When settled in Chicago, Mattie's* sister, Dee, brought home twin friends, Raymond and Richard, for a visit. Sparks flew between Raymond and Mattie and the two fell in love, married, and were blessed with seven children; and
WHEREAS, Mattie raised her family in Chicago during a turbulent time in this nation's history when many people were engaged in championing important civil rights in America. While riots broke out across the nation, including many in Chicago, Mattie focused on family, but was also active in her community and opened the family home to those in need; and
WHEREAS, Mattie was a strong woman by nature. She was well known throughout her life for living by the motto, "Don't be nobody's fool." Among the many family stories that are a testament to this, one that stands out occurred while she worked second shift for the Zenith Corporation. As the story goes, one night while coming home from work on the #126 Jackson bus, a man mistook Mattie for a "fool" and put his hand in her purse in an e...
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