IL SR1599

Illinois Senate honors the memory of Rosie Lee Atchison, born August 15, 1911, in Bolivar, Mississippi, who migrated to Chicago in 1935.

Atchison worked 30 years for the Pennsylvania Railroad (now Amtrak) starting in 1940 and purchased a two-flat building in Chicago's Englewood community on November 20, 1970.

She was forced from her home at the Mecca Building in 1951 when the Illinois Institute of Technology was built, later moving to the Robert Taylor Homes after her husband's death in 1963.

Known affectionately as "Big Ma," Atchison was a pillar of her community who kept her door open to those in need and exemplified hard work, determination, and perseverance.

Senate extends condolences to Atchison's surviving family of 2 children, 16 grandchildren, 58 great-grandchildren, 94 great-great-grandchildren, and 24 great-great-great-grandchildren.