Title
Resolution honoring Audrey H. Nixon, the longest-serving Lake County Board member, for her 35 years of public service and commitment to her community. On April 27, 2017, at the age of 81, Lake County lost a cherished friend, passionate and dedicated community leader. She was a true champion for justice and a tireless advocate for diversity and inclusion, and programs that transform lives. This Resolution recognizes and celebrates her long-lasting legacy comprised of a lifetime of accomplishments that will live on through the countless lives she’s touched.
Body
RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, on April 27, 2017, at the age of 81, Lake County lost a cherished friend, passionate and dedicated community leader, and devoted mother and grandmother; and
WHEREAS, the Lake County Board and the entire Lake County family will remember Audrey H. Nixon for her quiet strength, wisdom, fearless persistence and sense of optimism, which made her an exceptional leader; and
WHEREAS, Audrey was the longest-serving Lake County Board member and Lake County Forest Preserve Commissioner being sworn in to office in 1982 and serving for three decades; and
WHEREAS, Audrey represented District 14, which includes North Chicago, and portions of Park City, Waukegan, and Gurnee. She cared deeply for her district and especially her hometown of North Chicago, and advocated for her district at every opportunity; and
WHEREAS, Audrey served on countless committees during her tenure, including the long-time distinguished Chair of the County Board’s Law and Judicial Committee; and
WHEREAS, beyond her role as County Board Member, Audrey served on the North Chicago Grade School Board for the consolidated districts 63 and 64 and was an active and influential leader in her district, as well as on the national level; and
WHEREAS, as the most tenured County Board Member, she was our matriarch who carried herself with grace and dignity, and likewise, we were her extended family; and
WHEREAS, in a media interview last year, she commented that she continues to run for office because there is a lot of work that still needs to be addressed in improving the lives of her constituents such as: job creation, better housing and healthcare, stating “We, as a board, have come far during my tenure, but I feel there is more that can be done;” and
WHEREAS, Audrey’s self-proclaimed attributes included patience and open-mindedness and she put them into practice everyday, in turn garnering the respect and admiration of everyone she met; and
WHEREAS, Audrey led with her heart and truly cared about people, making it her life purpose to help them. She was a tireless advocate for programs that could transform lives for the better, especially in young people.
WHEREAS, recidivism, adequate healthcare and housing were important issues near and dear to her; and
WHEREAS, Audrey was a true champion for justice and a passionate advocate for fairness, equality, as well as civility in our public discourse. Audrey was a staunch supporter of the courts, especially, the Veteran’s, Mental Health and Drug Specialty Courts; and
WHEREAS, she diligently sought to strengthen relationships and implored everyone to work together for the collective good, and her leadership mantra will continue to echo throughout Lake County for many years to come; and
WHEREAS, she was also a tireless advocate for programs that promote and advance diversity and inclusion, and was a champion of the Forest Preserve’s Greenbelt Cultural Center in North Chicago; and
WHEREAS, Audrey was a diligent leader in advancing workforce programs that impacted the lives of many residents needing help to transition to their next jobs through her service on the Workforce Development Board for over 20 years; and
WHEREAS, she knew that getting young people a job could have a tremendous impact on their future path, which was why she supported the Lake County Board Summer Youth Employment Program, a county-sponsored program that annually gives over 200 youth their first job. In 2015, she advocated that Lake County increase funding to this program. As a result, 25 percent more young people were employed; and
WHEREAS, Audrey was deeply committed to her church, as well as her community, serving as a member of Christian Valley Missionary Baptist Church in North Chicago under the leadership of Senior Pastor Henry Woods; and
WHEREAS, on a personal level, Audrey loved to sing and was a member of her church choir for many years, and also enjoyed a long career as a beautician and was a proficient darts player; and
WHEREAS, Audrey was a loving mother to three children (Rodney, Tonya and Anthony), and was blessed with 20 grandchildren; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IN RESOLVED, Audrey leaves a long-lasting legacy comprised of a lifetime of accomplishments that will live on through the countless lives she’s touched; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, the Lake County Board, on behalf of the Lake County community, mourn the passing of a dedicated and accomplished community leader, our friend and colleague, County Board Member Audrey Nixon, and give gratitude for her years of service and commitment to her community. She will never be forgotten.
DATED, at Waukegan, Lake County, Illinois on Tuesday, May 9, 2017.