MEMORIAL-MARY ANNE BROWN

104th Regular Session Introduced by Don Harmon

The Illinois Senate memorializes Mary Anne Brown, recognizing her decades of leadership in child care and family services, and offers condolences to her family.

Resolution Adopted

Summary — SR 435: Memorial — Mary Anne Brown

Status: Resolution Adopted
Introduced/Filed: Received by Secretary of the Senate Apr 17, 2025; Read & Adopted Apr 22, 2025 (Senate); Reported enrolled Apr 22, 2025; Filed with Secretary Oct 14, 2025; Resolution Adopted Oct 15, 2025.
Primary sponsor(s) (as listed): Don Harmon; Randal Mangham (note below about text).

Purpose / Intent

SR 435 is a Senate memorial resolution that mourns the death of Mary Anne Brown (Dec 25, 1944 – May 11, 2025) and formally expresses the Illinois Senate’s condolences to her family, friends, and those who knew her. The resolution recognizes Ms. Brown’s life, community service, and professional contributions—particularly her decades of work serving children and families in the Oak Park / River Forest area.

Key provisions / What the resolution does

States the facts of Mary Anne Brown’s life and death, including birthplace (Cincinnati), education (Rosarian Academy; Dominican novitiate; Clarke College; graduate study in child psychology at the University of Iowa), and family details (husband Max Douglas Brown; son Cuyler Brown; grandchildren and siblings named).

Describes her public service and career highlights:

Director, South Austin Community Day Care (several years).
Executive Director, Hephzibah Home (Oak Park) beginning in 1976; led the organization until retirement in 2017.
Established and expanded programs to support working mothers, day care families in crisis, and partnerships with schools, social service agencies, and local police.
Directed inclusive policies (e.g., Hephzibah Home’s care for HIV‑positive infants, facilitating foster/adoption placements including by same‑sex couples).
Credited with creating residential, day‑care, mentoring, and adoption-related services benefitting thousands of children and families.

Expresses the Senate’s mourning and sympathy and directs that an appropriate copy of the resolution be presented to Ms. Brown’s family.

Who is affected / Impact

Primary: Mary Anne Brown’s surviving family (husband, son, grandchildren, siblings) who receive the Senate’s formal condolences.

Secondary: The resolution formally recognizes the community and nonprofit institutions (Hephzibah Home, local child‑care programs) with which she was associated, highlighting their public value and Ms. Brown’s leadership.

Procedural impact: ceremonial/commemorative only — this is not legislation that creates or changes law, budgets, or programs.

Procedural / Timeline notes

The resolution was read and adopted by the Senate (dates recorded: Senate read & adopted Mar 21, 2025; Read & adopted Apr 22, 2025; recorded in Journal Apr 22, 2025).

Reported enrolled Apr 22, 2025; later filed with Secretary Oct 14, 2025 and listed as adopted Oct 15, 2025.

A housekeeping instruction directs that a suitable copy be presented to Ms. Brown’s family.

Editorial note on source text

The materials provided include text from a separate resolution (a Georgia Senate resolution recognizing the Howard University Alumni Club of Atlanta, attributed to Senator Randal Mangham). That Howard University recognition appears to be a different SR and is not part of the Illinois memorial for Mary Anne Brown. The memorial SR 435 described above (LRB104 13753 MST 26492 r / SR0435) pertains to Mary Anne Brown and reflects actions taken by the Illinois Senate.