2025 Senate Concurrent Resolution 8

Whereas, It is with great admiration for her lifelong dedication to public service that we pause to mark the passing of Irma Clark-Coleman. The members of the Michigan Legislature were shocked and deeply saddened by the loss of such a dedicated, driven individual, who represented the people of Detroit at the state and local levels for decades. She will be remembered for her vibrant spirit and her steadfast belief in the power of public servants to make the world a better place; and

Whereas, Irma Clark-Coleman was born in rural Georgia but moved to Michigan at a young age, attending Pershing High School in Detroit and earning bachelor’s and master’s degrees in communications from Wayne State University. She was the first person in her family to graduate from college. In 1967, she began her career in Wayne County government, starting as an entry-level stenographer and rising to become the Director of Human Relations. She also served as Assistant Director of Public Information for the Road Commission, Media Relations Manager for former Wayne County Executive William Lucas, and Press Secretary to County Executive Edward H. McNamara. In 1991, she was appointed to the Detroit Board of Education, where she served as president from 1996 to 1998; and

Whereas, After three decades of service at the local level, Irma Clark-Coleman turned her attention to state government, being elected to represent the Detroiters of the Eleventh District in the House of Representatives in 1998. Her experience on the Detroit Board of Education was immediately recognized with her appointment to the Committee on Education. During her two terms in the House, she also served on the Committee on Great Lakes and Tourism and the Committee on Insurance and Financial Services; and

Whereas, In 2002, Irma Clark-Coleman sought election to the Senate, and she went on to represent the Third District, which included Dearborn, River Rouge, and parts of Detroit, for eight years. During her first term in the Senate, she served as minority vice chair of the Committee on Education and the Committee on Senior Citizens and Veterans Affairs, and she was a member of the Committee on Banking and Financial Institutions and the Committee on Families and Human Services. In her second term, Irma Clark-Coleman was appointed to the Committee on Appropriations. She continued to lead on education issues, serving as minority vice chair of the Subcommittee on Community Colleges as well as the Subcommittee on History, Arts, and Libraries. In addition, she served as a member of the Capital Outlay Subcommittee, the Federal Stimulus Oversight Subcommittee, the K-12, School Aid, Education Subcommittee, and the Committee on Energy Policy and Public Utilities. During her tenure in the Senate, Irma Clark-Coleman was appointed by Governor Jennifer Granholm to the National Education Commission of the States and the Cherry Commission on Higher Education; and

Whereas, In her 12 years in the Michigan Legislature, Irma Clark-Coleman was an advocate for children and families, with a particular focus on educational reform. She repeatedly sponsored legislation to reduce class sizes in kindergarten through third grade and to require school districts to adopt specific standards for the promotion of students to the next grade. In 2004, a package of legislation including one of Clark-

Coleman’s bills was enacted to permit students studying theology, divinity, or religion at certain institutions

to receive state scholarships and grants. She also successfully shepherded legislation to clarify

grandparenting time and to provide assistance to family members acting as guardians for abused or neglected

children; and

Whereas, Irma Clark-Coleman embraced a spirit of bipartisanship and, in her farewell speech, mentioned many shared memories, happy and sad, with colleagues from both sides of the aisle. Perhaps the most memorable moment from her time in the Legislature was when she brought the Four Tops – two of whom were her high school classmates – to the Senate floor to celebrate their 50th year together. Clearly Irma Clark-Coleman created strong connections with her fellow Senators; and

Whereas, Following her service in the Legislature, Irma Clark-Coleman returned to Wayne County government. She was elected to the Wayne County Board of Commissioners in 2010, a position she held until her passing. As of 2025, she was serving as chair of the Commission’s Committee on Public Safety, Judiciary and Homeland Security and the Wayne County Community Corrections Advisory Board; and

Whereas, Throughout her lifetime, Irma Clark-Coleman was involved in numerous organizations and received a multitude of awards for her service to the people of Michigan. She was a life member of the NAACP, served on the board of directors for the Travelers Aid Society, and was the co-chair of the Detroit Goodfellows Drive. She was also a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., an organization she honored with a resolution on their centennial anniversary. While she volunteered with too many organizations to list, these also included the United Way, the National Association of Black County Officials, the National Alliance of Black School Educators, the Civic Center Optimist Club, and the Detroit Works Partnership. Irma Clark-Coleman received the Spirit of Detroit Award from the City of Detroit, a Distinguished Service Award from the Wayne County Clerk, and the 2005 Legislator of the Year Award from the Michigan Association of School Social Workers; and

Whereas, We offer our sincere condolences to Irma Clark-Coleman’s family as they mourn her passing. Wayne County and the state of Michigan have lost an exemplary leader and public servant, but Irma Clark-

Coleman’s legacy will live on for years to come; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives concurring), That we offer this expression of our highest tribute to honor the memory of Irma Clark-Coleman, a member of the House of Representatives from 1999 to 2002 and the Senate from 2003 to 2010; and be it further

Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to the Clark-Coleman family as evidence of our lasting esteem for her memory.