Karen Yarbrough

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Karen Yarbrough
Eugene 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)
Maywood, Illinois, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseHenderson Yarbrough
EducationChicago State University (BA)
Northeastern Illinois University (MA)

Karen A. Yarbrough

African American
to hold the position. She held the position until her death in April 2024.

Early life and education

Yarbrough was born on August 22, 1950, in

John F. Kennedy School of Government.[4]

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.[5]

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.[6] Her term began in January 2001, and she was later appointed an assistant majority leader in 2011 and 2012.[7][8] Yarbrough left the Illinois House of Representatives in 2012 and became Cook County Recorder of Deeds in December that year.[9][10]

On November 6, 2018, Yarbrough ran unopposed and was elected as the Clerk of Cook County, becoming the first woman and African-American to be elected as the county clerk of Cook County.[9][10][11] She took office on December 3, 2018[12] and was preceded by retiring clerk David Orr,[12] and served until her death on April 7, 2024.[13]

On February 22, 2021, Yarbrough was appointed as acting Chair of the Democratic Party of Illinois, after preceding chairman Mike Madigan resigned.[14][15] She held this position until Robin Kelly was elected as Chair of the Illinois Democratic Party on March 3.[16]

She served on several house committees, including as chairwoman of the

Housing and Urban Development,[17] vice-chairwoman of the House Insurance Committee, on the Environmental Health Committee, Appropriations-Public Safety Committee, and the Computer Technology Committee.[11][17] Yarbrough was a member of the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus.[18]

Yarbrough served as vice-chair of the

Michael Madigan.[19]

Yarbrough was the founder and

United Way of Suburban Chicago and the Oak Park YMCA.[10]

Personal life and death

Yarbrough was married to Henderson Yarbrough, Sr., a former Maywood village trustee and Maywood village president, the latter position of which he served from 2005 to 2013.[20][21] They had six children and twelve grandchildren.[22]

On April 7, 2024, Yarbrough died after being hospitalized with an undisclosed illness at Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood.[15][23] She was 73.[24]

References

  1. ^ "Karen Yarbrough: Cook County Recorder of Deeds". WTTW. October 7, 2016. Archived from the original on January 27, 2023. Retrieved April 10, 2024.
  2. ^ a b Quig, A.D.; Long, Ray; Gorner, Jeremy (April 7, 2024). "Cook County Clerk Karen Yarbrough dies at 73". Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on April 9, 2024. Retrieved April 10, 2024.
  3. ^ Goldborough, Bob (July 20, 2018). "Don Williams Sr., Maywood activist and insurance agent who served one term as mayor, dies". Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on April 9, 2024. Retrieved April 10, 2024.
  4. ^ Lewis, Sean; Smith, Andrew; Wang, Judy (April 7, 2024). "Cook County Clerk Karen Yarbrough dies at 73". WGN-TV. Archived from the original on April 8, 2024. Retrieved April 10, 2024.
  5. ^ "Election Vote Totals Results". www.elections.il.gov. Illinois State Board of Elections. Archived from the original on February 22, 2020. Retrieved November 7, 2020.
  6. ^ "Downloadable Vote Totals". Illinois State Board of Elections. Retrieved April 10, 2024.
  7. ^ Murphy, Peter M. (February 2001). "92nd General Assembly Convenes with Active Schedule". Illinois Issues. Sangamon State University. Archived from the original on November 24, 2016. Retrieved November 23, 2016.
  8. Forest Park Review. Archived
    from the original on April 9, 2024. Retrieved April 10, 2024.
  9. ^
    CBS Chicago. Archived
    from the original on April 11, 2024. Retrieved April 11, 2024.
  10. ^ a b c d Romain, Michael (April 7, 2024). "Karen Yarbrough, Cook County Clerk, Dies At 73". Village Free Press. Archived from the original on April 11, 2024. Retrieved April 11, 2024.
  11. ^ a b "Karen Yarbrough". Ballotpedia. Archived from the original on July 26, 2023. Retrieved April 10, 2024.
  12. ^ a b "African American woman makes history as county clerk". Associated Press. December 3, 2018. Archived from the original on April 11, 2024. Retrieved April 11, 2024.
  13. NBC Chicago. Archived
    from the original on April 8, 2024. Retrieved April 7, 2024.
  14. Associated Press News. February 22, 2021. Archived
    from the original on February 25, 2021. Retrieved April 11, 2024.
  15. ^ a b Kaufmann, Justin (April 8, 2024). "Karen Yarbrough forged a legacy in Illinois politics". Axios. Archived from the original on April 11, 2024. Retrieved April 10, 2024.
  16. CBS Chicago. March 3, 2021. Archived
    from the original on August 9, 2022. Retrieved April 11, 2024.
  17. ^ a b Stern, Seth (March 21, 2006). "Yarbrough campaign declares victory". Wednesday Journal. Archived from the original on December 15, 2023. Retrieved April 10, 2024.
  18. ^ a b "Karen Yarbrough, Pioneering Cook County Clerk and Politician, Dies at 73". The Chicago Defender. April 8, 2024. Archived from the original on April 8, 2024. Retrieved April 10, 2024.
  19. ^ a b Pratt, Gregory (December 4, 2018). "Former Cook County commissioner, House Speaker Madigan ally appointed recorder of deeds". Chicago Tribune. chicagotribune.com. Archived from the original on November 8, 2020. Retrieved November 5, 2020.
  20. ^ Quig, A.D. (July 31, 2023). "Cook County employee sues Clerk Karen Yarbrough over soured land sale". Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on April 11, 2024. Retrieved April 10, 2024.
  21. Chicago Magazine. Archived
    from the original on November 30, 2022. Retrieved April 10, 2024.
  22. ABC7 Chicago. April 10, 2024. Archived
    from the original on April 10, 2024. Retrieved April 10, 2024.
  23. ^ Quig, A. D. (April 2, 2024). "Cook County Clerk Karen Yarbrough hospitalized". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved April 13, 2024.
  24. WGN 9. Archived
    from the original on April 7, 2024. Retrieved April 7, 2024.

External links
Party political offices
Preceded by
Michael Madigan
 Chair of the Illinois Democratic Party
Acting
2021 		Succeeded by
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