SR185: SR185 Duke, Nellie Dunaway; condolences

This resolution is a memorial passed by the Georgia Senate to recognize the life of Nellie Dunaway Duke, who died on January 28, 2025. It recounts her upbringing in Cave Springs and Rome, Georgia, her early basketball career, her marriage to Henry Duke, and her decades of advocacy for women's rights, including her work supporting ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment in Georgia and her long service as chair of the Georgia Commission on Women. The resolution also notes her community service roles, including work with a Carrollton church, the Carrollton Recreation Department, and the American Cancer Society, and lists her surviving family. It formally expresses the Senate's regret at her passing and directs the Secretary of the Senate to send a copy of the resolution to her family.

• Formally honors the life and memory of Nellie Dunaway Duke on behalf of the Georgia Senate.
• Expresses the Senate's deepest regret at her passing.
• Directs the Secretary of the Senate to prepare and distribute a copy of the resolution to her family.
• Creates no new law, funding, or regulatory changes, since it is a ceremonial resolution rather than a bill.

This resolution directly concerns the family of Nellie Dunaway Duke, who will receive an official copy, and reflects the Georgia Senate's own action; it does not create obligations for the public, agencies, or businesses.

While the resolution carries no legal or regulatory effect, it provides an official public record of the Georgia Senate's recognition of Nellie Dunaway Duke's advocacy work and community service, and offers her family a formal memorial document from the state legislature.

• The resolution's whereas clauses describe Duke's biography, career, and advocacy, including her role in the Equal Rights Amendment ratification effort in Georgia and leadership of the Georgia Commission on Women.
• The resolved clause has the Senate formally honor her life and express regret at her passing.
• A further resolved clause directs the Secretary of the Senate to provide a copy of the resolution to her family.

1. 2025-02-13Senate Read and Adopted (Senate)
2. 2025-02-12Senate Hopper (Senate)

• Nan Orrock (D, SD-036)Primary sponsor
• Elena Parent (D, SD-044)
• Kim Jackson (D, SD-041)
• Harold Jones (D, SD-022)
• Kenya Wicks (D, SD-034)
• Gail Davenport (D, SD-017)
• Tonya Anderson (D, SD-043)
• Sally Harrell (D, SD-040)
• Sonya Halpern (D, SD-039)
• RaShaun Kemp (D, SD-038)
• Donzella James (D, SD-028)
• Jason Esteves (D, SD-035)
• Michael Rhett (D, SD-033)
• Ed Harbison (D, SD-015)
• Clint Dixon (R, SD-045)
• Chuck Hufstetler (R, SD-052)
• Sheikh Rahman (D, SD-005)
• Brandon Beach (R, SD-021)
• Marty Harbin (R, SD-016)
• Ricky Williams (R, SD-025)
• Nikki Merritt (D, SD-009)
• Derek Mallow (D, SD-002)
• Carden Summers (R, SD-013)

• Georgia Senate resolution
• women's rights history
• Georgia Commission on Women
• memorial resolution