Karen Yarbrough: Difference between revisions

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==Personal life and death==
==Personal life and death==
Yarbrough was married to Henderson Yarbrough, Sr., a current Maywood village trustee and former Maywood village president.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Quig |first=A.D. |date=July 31, 2023 |title=Cook County employee sues Clerk Karen Yarbrough over soured land sale |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2023/07/31/cook-county-employee-sues-clerk-karen-yarbrough-over-soured-land-sale/ |access-date=April 10, 2024 |website=[[Chicago Tribune]] |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Herguth |first=Robert |last2=Placko |first2=Dane |date=August 14, 2012 |title=Maywood Power Couple Presides Over Municipal Mess |url=https://www.chicagomag.com/Chicago-Magazine/September-2012/Maywood-Power-Couple-Henderson-and-Karen-Yarbrough-Presides-Over-Municipal-Mess/ |access-date=April 10, 2024 |website=[[Chicago Magazine]] |language=en-US}}</ref> They had six children and twelve grandchildren.<ref>{{Cite web |date=April 10, 2024 |title=Memorial arrangements for Cook County Clerk Karen Yarbrough announced |url=https://abc7chicago.com/karen-yarbrough-death-cook-county-clerk-funeral/14641680/ |access-date=April 10, 2024 |website=[[ABC7 Chicago]] |language=en}}</ref>
Yarbrough was married to Henderson Yarbrough, Sr., a current{{when?}} Maywood village trustee and former Maywood village president.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Quig |first=A.D. |date=July 31, 2023 |title=Cook County employee sues Clerk Karen Yarbrough over soured land sale |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2023/07/31/cook-county-employee-sues-clerk-karen-yarbrough-over-soured-land-sale/ |access-date=April 10, 2024 |website=[[Chicago Tribune]] |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Herguth |first=Robert |last2=Placko |first2=Dane |date=August 14, 2012 |title=Maywood Power Couple Presides Over Municipal Mess |url=https://www.chicagomag.com/Chicago-Magazine/September-2012/Maywood-Power-Couple-Henderson-and-Karen-Yarbrough-Presides-Over-Municipal-Mess/ |access-date=April 10, 2024 |website=[[Chicago Magazine]] |language=en-US}}</ref> They had six children and twelve grandchildren.<ref>{{Cite web |date=April 10, 2024 |title=Memorial arrangements for Cook County Clerk Karen Yarbrough announced |url=https://abc7chicago.com/karen-yarbrough-death-cook-county-clerk-funeral/14641680/ |access-date=April 10, 2024 |website=[[ABC7 Chicago]] |language=en}}</ref>


On April 7, 2024, Yarbrough died after being hospitalized with an undisclosed illness. She was 73.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://wgntv.com/news/cook-county/cook-county-clerk-karen-yarbrough-dies-at-73/|title=Cook County Clerk Karen Yarbrough dies at 73|first1=Sean|last1=Lewis|first2=Andrew|last2=Smith|publisher=WGN 9|date=April 7, 2024|accessdate=April 7, 2024}}</ref>
On April 7, 2024, Yarbrough died after being hospitalized with an undisclosed illness. She was 73.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://wgntv.com/news/cook-county/cook-county-clerk-karen-yarbrough-dies-at-73/|title=Cook County Clerk Karen Yarbrough dies at 73|first1=Sean|last1=Lewis|first2=Andrew|last2=Smith|publisher=WGN 9|date=April 7, 2024|accessdate=April 7, 2024}}</ref>

Revision as of 22:15, 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]

Political career and community involvement

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, including as chairwoman of the Housing and Urban Development,[12] vice-chairwoman of the House Insurance Committee, on the Environmental Health Committee, Appropriations-Public Safety Committee, and the Computer Technology Committee.[3][12] Yarbrough was a member of the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus,[13] and the Governor's Safety and Re-Entry Commission.[citation needed]

Yarbrough served as vice-chair of the Democratic Party of Illinois.[14] She was regarded as an ally of former state party chairman Michael Madigan.[14]

Yarbrough was the founder and CEO of Hathaway Insurance Agency, where she worked for thirty years.[citation needed] 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.[citation needed]

Personal life and death

Yarbrough was married to Henderson Yarbrough, Sr., a current[when?] Maywood village trustee and former Maywood village president.[15][16] They had six children and twelve grandchildren.[17]

On April 7, 2024, Yarbrough died after being hospitalized with an undisclosed illness. She was 73.[18]

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. ^ a b "Karen Yarbrough". Ballotpedia. Retrieved April 10, 2024.
  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 Stern, Seth (March 21, 2006). "Yarbrough campaign declares victory". Wednesday Journal. Retrieved April 10, 2024.
  13. ^ "Karen Yarbrough, Pioneering Cook County Clerk and Politician, Dies at 73". The Chicago Defender. April 8, 2024. Retrieved April 10, 2024.
  14. ^ 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.
  15. ^ Quig, A.D. (July 31, 2023). "Cook County employee sues Clerk Karen Yarbrough over soured land sale". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved April 10, 2024.
  16. ^ Herguth, Robert; Placko, Dane (August 14, 2012). "Maywood Power Couple Presides Over Municipal Mess". Chicago Magazine. Retrieved April 10, 2024.
  17. ^ "Memorial arrangements for Cook County Clerk Karen Yarbrough announced". ABC7 Chicago. April 10, 2024. Retrieved April 10, 2024.
  18. ^ 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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