An aide of Karen Yarbrough, the former Cook County Clerk, has reported her dead. The news comes on Sunday, April 7th. Yarbrough passed at 73 years old. No one has disclosed the exact cause of her death.
However, it was stated her health had been concerning for some time. She was admitted to the hospital the week prior to her passing. She is being remembered for her achievements in her field as well as her relationship with close loved ones.
Karen Yarbrough, More Than the Cook County
Karen Yarbrough has acquired many accolades throughout her life. Before she became the clerk for Cook County she had other jobs. Yarbrough graduated from the predominantly black Chicago State University in 1993 with a bachelor’s degree in business administration.
She then earned an inner city studies master’s degree from Northeastern Illinois University. Cook County Clerk, Yarbrough also acquired studies at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government.
Afterward, Karen would receive her license as a real estate broker and become the CEO and president of Maywood-based Hathaway Insurance. Moreover, she was president of the Oak Park Chamber of Commerce for eight years, as well as performing as a board member of the United Way of Suburban Chicago as well as the Oak Park YMCA.
She was a founder of Maywood’s live theater, she also wrote a live play that was performed at the Madison Street Theater in Oak Park. Karen also served as a member of the Maywood Youth Mentoring program.
Though these are all outstanding examples of her work as a civil servant for her community, it doesn’t stop there.
Her State Work
Karen Yarbrough was more than the former Cook County clerk. Yarbrough before becoming the Cook County clerk also served Illinois at the state level. Karen held a seat as a Democratic representative in the Illinois General Assembly. She represented District Seven from 2001 to 2013.
Furthermore, she served as assistant Majority Leader to the House of Representatives from 2011 to 2012. Also, she assumed office as Clerk for Cook County in 2018.
Karen won the general election for Cook County clerk in 2018 with almost %100 of the votes. Then, in 2022, she once again won the general election, but with about %70 of the voters’ approval.
Yarbrough also worked on multiple committees during her political state career. While she served as a representative, from 2009-2010 she worked on several committees for the legislative sessions.
Such as sessions dealing with education, environmental health, as well as the railroad industry. Yet, she was chair member and vice chair member of appropriations- public safety and insurance, respectively.
Moreover, while she was the majority leader of the House of Representatives, she was assigned as chair of the housing committee. She also worked on other legislative session committees like education, environmental health, insurance, and transit.
Yarbrough’s Cook County Co-Worker’s Laments
The coworkers and loved ones of Karen Yarbrough gave well-deserved homage to the passed Cook County clerk. Her colleagues have even stated her passing is a loss for the political world. Yarbrough also made history as the first black woman elected into the office of Clerk in the county.
The Cook County Treasurer, Maria Pappas reminisced about her friend and coworker while expressing the political loss of her passing. Pappas stated, “Her loss is devastating, because all the new people coming into politics just don’t have what she had. She was honest. She was straight.” Maria Pappas continued to say, ” She didn’t have two stories. You could look her in the eye, and she had empathy for you,”.
Maria Pappas also goes on to say that they were close friends and that she had even visited Yarbrough the week before she passed. She goes on to say how they talked for hours about the inevitability of mortality, sharing an emotional and sobering experience.
Furthermore, the former County Commissioner, Richard Boykin, worked alongside Yarbrough for years. Boykin talks about how she listened to the people and worked her damnedest to get the job done.
The County President, Toni Preckwinkle, also considered her a “trailblazer” and a friend. Even Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson gave Yarbrough her flowers stating, “She was both a pioneer and a tireless legislator.”, while Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker expressed that she was an inspiration who loyally served.
Due to the profound loss of Karen Yarbrough, the Chief Deputy Clerk, Cedric Giles, is now taking over the operations.
Yarbrough’s Family
The passing of the beloved Cook County clerk doesn’t only leave her colleagues feeling the loss. Her family is missing an intimate and dear part of their lives. Karen has left behind her husband as well as their six children. A family member of Yarbrough put out a public statement.
The statement proclaims, “Karen Yarbrough was a wife, mother, sister, aunt, and mentor to everyone who met her. So many of us stand on her shoulders and are actively walking pathways that she forged.”
It goes on to say that she would passionately defend issues she felt were just, whether it was a popularly held belief or not. She was passionate about women’s rights as well as defending those who are underserved and underprivileged.
The family then goes on to say how they are deeply proud of the work she has done, and how her touch on the world has been so positive.
Written By AriAnna Rathers
Sources:
Ballotpedia: Karen Yarbrough by Ballotpedia
Illinois General Assembly: Representative Karen A. Yarbrough (D) by Illinois General Assembly
ABC News: Cook County Clerk Karen Yarbrough dies at 73 after being hospitalized in critical condition by Chuck Goudie, Maher Kawash, and Barb Markoff, Christine Tressel and Tom Jones
Village Free Press: The County Recorder’s Latest Act — A Stage Play Set In Maywood by Michael Romain
Featured Image Courtesy of Ken Lund’s Flickr Page – Creative Commons License
Inset Image Courtesy of Michael Linden – Creative Commons License
