Employees in the Office of Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas are contributing to a fund to help fellow employee Tracey Hudson with funeral expenses for her young son and her grandfather, who died in a home fire. Her son will be buried Thursday (December 27).

Hudson, who works in the Tax Research Department of Pappas' Office, is a Chicago Alternative Policing Strategy (CAPS) beat representative in the 21st Police District on the South Side. On November 26, she was honored by Mayor Richard M. Daley and Police Superintendent Terry Hillard for helping improve the quality of life in Chicago's neighborhoods.

On Friday, December 21, fire struck the family's apartment in the 3600 block of South Lake Park and claimed the life of her 7-year-old son, Shavon Raymond Hudson. Her grandfather, Raymond Hall, 76, suffered smoke inhalation and burns and died Sunday, December 23. The family's possessions were lost in the fire.

Employees of the Cook County Treasurer's Office and other Cook County government offices were contributing to help Hudson with funeral expenses and to acquire new clothing and home furnishings.

Visitation was set for Wednesday night at A.R. Leak & Sons Funeral Chapel, 7838 S. Cottage Grove Ave., Chicago. Shavon's funeral will be in the Leak & Sons Chapel at 1:30 p.m. on Thursday (December 27). Afterward, he will be buried at Oakland Memory Lane Cemetery, 15200 Lincoln Ave., in south-suburban Dolton. Services for his grandfather will be scheduled.

Checks can be made to: Tracey Hudson Family Fund and sent to Eleni Kouruklis, Human Resources Department, Cook County Treasurer's Office, Room 212, Chicago, IL, 60602.

"Tracey has been in our thoughts through this holiday season," Pappas said. "Her fellow employees are showing great generosity of spirit in helping her through this ordeal."