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Karen Yarbrough

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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)
Maywood, 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. Elected to the office of Cook County Clerk on November 6, 2018, she was the first woman and African American to hold the position. She held the position until her death in April 2024.

Early life and education

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Yarbrough was born on August 22, 1950, in Washington, D.C.[2] 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.[2][3] 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.[4]

Political career and community involvement

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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 Democratic Party of Illinois.[19] She was regarded as an ally of former state party chairman Michael Madigan.[19]

Yarbrough was the founder and CEO of Hathaway Insurance Agency, where she worked for thirty years.[10][18] 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.[10]

Personal life and death

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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

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  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. ^ Mordacq, Jessica (April 8, 2024). "Karen Yarbrough, Cook County Clerk, dies at 73". Forest Park Review. Archived from the original on April 9, 2024. Retrieved April 10, 2024.
  9. ^ a b Lawrence, Beth; Ramos, Andrew (April 8, 2024). "Cook County Clerk Karen Yarbrough dies after being hospitalized with "serious medical condition"". 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. ^ Stefanski, Matt (April 7, 2024). "Cook County Clerk Karen Yarbrough dies following hospitalization, spokesperson confirms". NBC Chicago. Archived from the original on April 8, 2024. Retrieved April 7, 2024.
  14. ^ "Ex-House speaker Madigan quits Democratic Party chairman job". 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. ^ "U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly Elected Illinois Democratic Party Chair". 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. ^ Herguth, Robert; Placko, Dane (August 14, 2012). "Maywood Power Couple Presides Over Municipal Mess". Chicago Magazine. Archived from the original on November 30, 2022. Retrieved April 10, 2024.
  22. ^ "Memorial arrangements for Cook County Clerk Karen Yarbrough announced". 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. ^ Lewis, Sean; Smith, Andrew (April 7, 2024). "Cook County Clerk Karen Yarbrough dies at 73". WGN 9. Archived from the original on April 7, 2024. Retrieved April 7, 2024.
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Party political offices
Preceded by Chair of the Illinois Democratic Party
Acting
2021 		Succeeded by
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