Cook County Clerk Karen Yarbrough passed away recently, following hospital treatment for an undisclosed medical condition. She was 73 years old.

When Yarbrough was elected to office in 2018, she became both the first African American and the first woman to hold the title of Cook County clerk. Prior to that, she served as the Cook County recorder of deeds from 2012 to 2018.

During that time, in late 2016, Yarbrough posed for the cover of Chicago Agent and contributed to our lead story: “A controversial referendum: Why eliminating the Cook County Recorder of Deeds could cost more than it saves.” In that piece, Yarbrough defended the future of her position. Four years later, the city would consolidate the role of recorder of deeds with that of Cook County clerk. By that point, though, Yarbrough was already serving her historic tenure.

After her passing, Yarbrough’s family released a statement calling her, “a wife, mother, sister, aunt and mentor to everyone who met her.” We here at Chicago Agent remember her as a friend of the magazine.