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Yarbrough was the founder and [[CEO]] of Hathaway Insurance Agency, where she worked for thirty years. She served as president of the Maywood [[Chamber of Commerce]], and on the boards of [[United Way of America|United Way]] of Suburban Chicago and the Oak Park [[YMCA]].
Yarbrough was the founder and [[CEO]] of Hathaway Insurance Agency, where she worked for thirty years. She served as president of the Maywood [[Chamber of Commerce]], and on the boards of [[United Way of America|United Way]] of Suburban Chicago and the Oak Park [[YMCA]].


==Political career==
==State representative==
In 1998, Yarbrough unsuccessfully challenged incumbent [[Eugene Moore (Illinois politician)|Eugene Moore]] in the Democratic primary for the 7th district seat in the [[Illinois House of Representatives]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Election Vote Totals Results |url=https://www.elections.il.gov/ElectionOperations/ElectionVoteTotals.aspx |website=www.elections.il.gov |publisher=Illinois State Board of Elections |access-date=7 November 2020}}</ref>
In 1998, Yarbrough unsuccessfully challenged incumbent [[Eugene Moore (Illinois politician)|Eugene Moore]] in the Democratic primary for the 7th district seat in the [[Illinois House of Representatives]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Election Vote Totals Results |url=https://www.elections.il.gov/ElectionOperations/ElectionVoteTotals.aspx |website=www.elections.il.gov |publisher=Illinois State Board of Elections |access-date=7 November 2020}}</ref>


Yarbrough ran again for the 7th district seat in the Illinois House of Representatives again in 2000, this time succeeding, unseating incumbent [[Wanda Sharp]] in the Democratic primary and winning the general election.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Downloadable Vote Totals |url=https://www.elections.il.gov/ElectionOperations/DownloadVoteTotals.aspx?MID=vvc3ru6lLPI%3d&T=637536467590233857 |access-date=April 10, 2024 |website=[[Illinois State Board of Elections]]}}</ref> Her term began in January, 2001, and she was later appointed an assistant majority leader.<ref>{{cite journal|url=http://www.lib.niu.edu/2001/ip010114.html|title=92nd General Assembly Convenes with Active Schedule|author=Murphy, Peter M.|journal=Illinois Issues|publisher=[[University of Illinois Springfield|Sangamon State University]]|date=February 2001|access-date=November 23, 2016}}</ref> She served on several house committees (Housing and Urban Development (Chairwoman); House Insurance Committee (Vice-Chairwoman); Environmental Health Committee; Appropriations: Public Safety, Computer Technology) and was a member of the [[Illinois Legislative Black Caucus]], and the Governor’s Safety and Re-Entry Commission.
Yarbrough ran again for the 7th district seat in the Illinois House of Representatives again in 2000, this time succeeding, unseating incumbent [[Wanda Sharp]] in the Democratic primary and winning the general election.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Downloadable Vote Totals |url=https://www.elections.il.gov/ElectionOperations/DownloadVoteTotals.aspx?MID=vvc3ru6lLPI%3d&T=637536467590233857 |access-date=April 10, 2024 |website=[[Illinois State Board of Elections]]}}</ref> Her term began in January 2001, and she was later appointed an assistant majority leader in 2011 and 2012.<ref>{{cite journal|url=http://www.lib.niu.edu/2001/ip010114.html|title=92nd General Assembly Convenes with Active Schedule|author=Murphy, Peter M.|journal=Illinois Issues|publisher=[[University of Illinois Springfield|Sangamon State University]]|date=February 2001|access-date=November 23, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Mordacq |first=Jessica |date=April 8, 2024 |title=Karen Yarbrough, Cook County Clerk, dies at 73 |url=http://www.forestparkreview.com/2024/04/08/karen-yarbrough-cook-county-clerk-dies-at-73/ |access-date=April 10, 2024 |website=[[Forest Park Review]] |language=en-US}}</ref> She served on several house committees (Housing and Urban Development (Chairwoman); House Insurance Committee (Vice-Chairwoman); Environmental Health Committee; Appropriations: Public Safety, Computer Technology) and was a member of the [[Illinois Legislative Black Caucus]], and the Governor’s Safety and Re-Entry Commission.


==Vice chair of the Democratic Party of Illinois==
Yarbrough served as vice-chair of the [[Democratic Party of Illinois]].<ref name="madigan"/>
Yarbrough served as vice-chair of the [[Democratic Party of Illinois]].<ref name="madigan"/>


Revision as of 19:03, 10 April 2024

Karen Yarbrough
Yarbrough in 2013
Chair of the Illinois Democratic Party
Acting
In office
February 22, 2021 – March 3, 2021
Preceded byMichael Madigan
Succeeded byRobin Kelly
Clerk of Cook County
In office
December 3, 2018 – April 7, 2024
Preceded byDavid Orr
Succeeded byCedric Giles (acting)
Cook County Recorder of Deeds
In office
December 2012 – December 3, 2018
Preceded byEugene Moore
Succeeded byEdward Moody
Member of the Illinois House of Representatives
from the 7th district
In office
January 2001 – December 2012
Preceded byWanda Sharp
Succeeded byCory Foster
Personal details
Born(1950-08-22)August 22, 1950
Washington, D.C., U.S.
DiedApril 7, 2024(2024-04-07) (aged 73)
Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseHenderson Yarbrough
EducationChicago State University (BA)
Northeastern Illinois University (MA)

Karen A. Yarbrough[1] (August 22, 1950 – April 7, 2024) was an American politician who served as the Cook County Clerk from 2018 until her death in 2024. Yarbrough served as a member of the Illinois House of Representatives from 2001 to 2013, and as Cook County Recorder of Deeds from 2012 to 2018. She briefly served as the interim chair of the Democratic Party of Illinois after long-time chair Michael Madigan resigned from the position in February 2021.[2] Elected to the office of Cook County Clerk on November 6, 2018, she was the first woman and African American to hold the position.[3] She held the position until her death in April 2024.[4]

Early life and education

Yarbrough was born on August 22, 1950, in Washington, D.C.[5] Her family moved to Maywood, Illinois in the 1960s, and Yarbrough's father, Don Williams Sr., was an insurance agent who later became mayor of the village.[5][6] She earned a bachelor's degree in Business Administration from Chicago State University, a master’s in Inner City Studies from Northeastern Illinois University and attended nondegree executive education at the John F. Kennedy School of Government.[7]

Career and community involvement

Yarbrough was the founder and CEO of Hathaway Insurance Agency, where she worked for thirty years. She served as president of the Maywood Chamber of Commerce, and on the boards of United Way of Suburban Chicago and the Oak Park YMCA.

Political career

In 1998, Yarbrough unsuccessfully challenged incumbent Eugene Moore in the Democratic primary for the 7th district seat in the Illinois House of Representatives.[8]

Yarbrough ran again for the 7th district seat in the Illinois House of Representatives again in 2000, this time succeeding, unseating incumbent Wanda Sharp in the Democratic primary and winning the general election.[9] Her term began in January 2001, and she was later appointed an assistant majority leader in 2011 and 2012.[10][11] She served on several house committees (Housing and Urban Development (Chairwoman); House Insurance Committee (Vice-Chairwoman); Environmental Health Committee; Appropriations: Public Safety, Computer Technology) and was a member of the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus, and the Governor’s Safety and Re-Entry Commission.

Yarbrough served as vice-chair of the Democratic Party of Illinois.[12]

Yarbrough was regarded as an ally of former state party chairman Michael Madigan.[12]

Personal life and death

Yarbrough was married to Henderson Yarbrough, Sr., a current Maywood village trustee and former Maywood village president. They had seven grandchildren.

On April 7, 2024, Yarbrough died after being hospitalized with an undisclosed illness. She was 73.[13]

References

  1. ^ "Karen Yarbrough: Cook County Recorder of Deeds". WTTW. October 7, 2016. Retrieved April 10, 2024.
  2. ^ "Madigan Resigns as Chair of State Democratic Party". WMAQ-TV. February 22, 2021. Retrieved February 23, 2021.
  3. ^ "Karen Yarbrough".
  4. ^ Stefanski, Matt (April 7, 2024). "Cook County Clerk Karen Yarbrough dies following hospitalization, spokesperson confirms". NBC Chicago. Retrieved April 7, 2024.
  5. ^ a b Quig, A.D.; Long, Ray; Gorner, Jeremy (April 7, 2024). "Cook County Clerk Karen Yarbrough dies at 73". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved April 10, 2024.
  6. ^ Goldborough, Bob (July 20, 2018). "Don Williams Sr., Maywood activist and insurance agent who served one term as mayor, dies". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved April 10, 2024.
  7. ^ Lewis, Sean; Smith, Andrew; Wang, Judy (April 7, 2024). "Cook County Clerk Karen Yarbrough dies at 73". WGN-TV. Retrieved April 10, 2024.
  8. ^ "Election Vote Totals Results". www.elections.il.gov. Illinois State Board of Elections. Retrieved 7 November 2020.
  9. ^ "Downloadable Vote Totals". Illinois State Board of Elections. Retrieved April 10, 2024.
  10. ^ Murphy, Peter M. (February 2001). "92nd General Assembly Convenes with Active Schedule". Illinois Issues. Sangamon State University. Retrieved November 23, 2016.
  11. ^ Mordacq, Jessica (April 8, 2024). "Karen Yarbrough, Cook County Clerk, dies at 73". Forest Park Review. Retrieved April 10, 2024.
  12. ^ a b Pratt, Gregory (4 December 2018). "Former Cook County commissioner, House Speaker Madigan ally appointed recorder of deeds". chicagotribune.com. Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 5 November 2020.
  13. ^ Lewis, Sean; Smith, Andrew (April 7, 2024). "Cook County Clerk Karen Yarbrough dies at 73". WGN 9. Retrieved April 7, 2024.

External links

Party political offices
Preceded by Chair of the Illinois Democratic Party
Acting
2021 		Succeeded by
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