---
title: HR 1125. Smith, Mayor Waymond; Alapaha, Georgia; honoring the life, service, and legacy; condolences
collection: bills
id: 2025-2026/hr1125
cite_as: HR 1125, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1125
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1125.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1125/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/72545
date: 2026-01-28
status: passed
corpus_version: bills-2026-09-13
license: Public record of the Georgia General Assembly, via LegiScan; see about.md
publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice.
up: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026.md
previous: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1124.md
next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1126.md
index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md
omitted: votes and history
omitted_chars: 131
omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1125.md?full=1
bill_number: HR 1125
session: 2025-2026 Regular Session
session_slug: 2025-2026
chamber: House
bill_type: resolution
status_date: 2026-01-28
last_action: House Read and Adopted
sponsors:
  - Arlene Beckles
  - Jaclyn Ford
  - Carolyn Hugley
  - Chuck Efstration
  - Eric Gisler
  - Demetrius Douglas
text_version: Introduced
has_text: true
legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/HR1125/2025
upstream_id: 2100587
summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5
topic_tags:
  - memorial resolution
  - local government
  - Alapaha Georgia
  - condolences
---

# HR 1125. Smith, Mayor Waymond; Alapaha, Georgia; honoring the life, service, and legacy; condolences

## Text

House Resolution 1125
By: Representatives Beckles of the 96th, Ford of the 170th, Hugley of the 141st, Efstration of
the 104th, Gisler of the 121st, and others
A RESOLUTION
Recognizing and honoring the life, service, and legacy of Mayor Waymond Smith of
Alapaha, Georgia; and for other purposes.
WHEREAS, Mayor Waymond Smith, 66, of Alapaha, Georgia, entered eternal rest on
January 15, 2026, at South Georgia Medical Center in Valdosta; and
WHEREAS, Waymond Smith was born June 6, 1959, in Ocilla, Georgia, to Timothy Smith,
Sr., and Verlie Mae Smith, the fourth child in a loving family, and graduated from Berrien
High School in 1979; and
WHEREAS, Waymond dedicated over three decades of his professional life to Amoco
Fabric and was currently employed with Winfab in Nashville, Georgia, demonstrating a
strong work ethic, integrity, and commitment to excellence in every endeavor he undertook;
and
WHEREAS, Waymond devoted 30 years as a proud member of the Alapaha Volunteer Fire
Department, serving his community with courage and dedication; and
WHEREAS, Waymond served 22 years as an elected official and 18 years as the beloved
Mayor of Alapaha, guiding the town with wisdom, compassion, and an unwavering
dedication to the well-being of others; and
WHEREAS, his knowledge of municipal policies and law, paired with his genuine concern
for his neighbors, left a lasting impact on all who had the privilege to know him; and
WHEREAS, Waymond was a founding member of The Gospelaires of Georgia, a beloved
gospel quartet founded in the 1970s, serving as guitarist and backup singer alongside his
brother Tim and cherishing every moment spent making music with family and friends; and
WHEREAS, his deep faith, devotion to family, and lifelong passion for gospel music blessed
audiences and created a lasting legacy that continues today, including through his son
Antwan who joined the group as a drummer; and
WHEREAS, Waymond was known for his humor, warmth, and remarkable gift for making
everyone feel valued and loved, with laughter that could brighten a room and words of
encouragement that left an indelible mark on friends, family, and colleagues alike; and
WHEREAS, he leaves to cherish his memory his children: Antwan (Jalisa) Smith, Verlitha
(Benjamin) Reiss, and Xaveon (Chika) Wilson; his mother: Verlie M. Smith; his siblings:
Rudolph Smith, Carlethia Nixon, Rose Marie Smith, Wilhelmina Smith, and Edwinda
Reeves; along with cherished grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins, and countless friends
whose lives he touched in profound ways.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that
the members of this body recognize and honor the exceptional life and service of Mayor
Waymond Smith and express their deepest sympathy to his family, friends, and the
community of Alapaha upon his passing.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the House of Representatives is authorized
and directed to make an appropriate copy of this resolution available for distribution to the
family of Mayor Waymond Smith.

## Summaries written by Georgia Commons

The following was written by claude-sonnet-5 from the text above and is not part of the resolution. Quote the text, not the summary.

A Georgia House resolution honors the life and public service of Mayor Waymond Smith of Alapaha, who died on January 15, 2026, and offers condolences to his family and community.

### Plain-language summary

This resolution from the Georgia House of Representatives recognizes Mayor Waymond Smith of Alapaha, Georgia, who died on January 15, 2026, at age 66. It recounts his decades of work at Amoco Fabric and Winfab, his 30 years volunteering with the Alapaha Volunteer Fire Department, and his 22 years as an elected official, including 18 years as mayor of Alapaha. It also notes his role as a founding member of the gospel group The Gospelaires of Georgia.
The resolution formally states that the House recognizes and honors his life and service and extends sympathy to his family, friends, and the Alapaha community. It directs the Clerk of the House to prepare a copy of the resolution for distribution to his family. The resolution does not change any Georgia law; it is a ceremonial statement by the legislature.

### What it does

- Formally recognizes and honors the life and public service of Mayor Waymond Smith of Alapaha, Georgia.
- Expresses the House of Representatives' condolences to Smith's family, friends, and the Alapaha community.
- Directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to prepare a copy of the resolution for distribution to Smith's family.
- Creates no new law, funding, or regulatory change since it is a ceremonial resolution.

### Who it affects

This resolution directly concerns the family, friends, and community of Mayor Waymond Smith in Alapaha, Georgia, including his children, mother, siblings, and fellow members of the Alapaha Volunteer Fire Department and The Gospelaires of Georgia gospel group.

### Why it matters

The resolution carries no legal or financial effect but serves as an official public acknowledgment from the Georgia House of Representatives of a local mayor's decades of civic and community service, providing a formal record and a keepsake for his family.

### Key provisions

- The whereas clauses recount Smith's biography, his 30 years with the Alapaha Volunteer Fire Department, and his 22 years as an elected official including 18 as mayor.
- The resolved clause states the House recognizes and honors Smith's life and service and expresses sympathy to his family and community.
- A further resolved clause directs the Clerk of the House to make a copy available for distribution to Smith's family.

## Status

- Status: Passed (2026-01-28)
- Last action: House Read and Adopted (2026-01-28)
- Sponsors: Arlene Beckles, Jaclyn Ford, Carolyn Hugley, Chuck Efstration, Eric Gisler, Demetrius Douglas
- Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/72545

> The history, votes, and amendments (131 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1125.md?full=1