--- title: HR 1273. Lauderdale, George and Sally; honoring the life and memory; condolences collection: bills id: 2025-2026/hr1273 cite_as: HR 1273, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.) canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1273 md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1273.md text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1273/text source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/72983 date: 2026-02-06 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/hr1272.md next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1274.md index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md omitted: votes and history omitted_chars: 131 omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1273.md?full=1 bill_number: HR 1273 session: 2025-2026 Regular Session session_slug: 2025-2026 chamber: House bill_type: resolution status_date: 2026-02-06 last_action: House Read and Adopted sponsors: - Samuel Park - Mack Jackson - Al Williams - Derrick Jackson - Karlton Howard - Brian Prince text_version: Introduced has_text: true legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/HR1273/2025 upstream_id: 2111488 summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5 topic_tags: - memorial resolution - Jefferson County - Georgia House of Representatives - community leaders --- # HR 1273. Lauderdale, George and Sally; honoring the life and memory; condolences ## Text House Resolution 1273 By: Representatives Park of the 107th, Jackson of the 128th, Williams of the 168th, Jackson of the 68th, Howard of the 129th, and others A RESOLUTION Honoring the life and memory of George and Sally Lauderdale; and for other purposes. WHEREAS, Reverend George Seebert Lauderdale (1929-2017) and Sally Swan Burke Lauderdale (1928-2026) were united in marriage for 67 years, establishing a legacy of faith and service that reached from Jefferson County, Georgia, to the international mission field; and WHEREAS, a graduate of Erskine College and Seminary, Reverend George Lauderdale dedicated his life to the ministry, serving as a founder and original board member of the Christian Broadcasting Network and establishing a radio ministry that broadcasted in the Philippines for over 40 years; and WHEREAS, Mrs. Sally Lauderdale, a native of the Zebina community and the first female editor of the Erskine Mirror, was a devoted educator and community leader who taught the adult Sunday school class at Ebenezer A.R. Presbyterian Church for a decade, concluding her final lesson at the age of 90; and WHEREAS, together they worked to further their faith through Reverend George's 30-year weekly column for the News and Farmer and his publication of WordSing, a translation of the Bible into rhyme and meter which Sally meticulously edited; and WHEREAS, the Lauderdales were known for their local impact in Wrens and Jefferson County, where Sally served as President of the Louisville Garden Club during the re-landscaping of the Courthouse and as a charter member of the Arts Guild of Jefferson County; and WHEREAS, their commitment to others was demonstrated by their hosting of a steady stream of missionaries and refugees in their home, and by providing a welcoming environment for families newly immigrated to Georgia; and WHEREAS, their global influence included more than 20 trips to the Holy Land and mission work in England, India, Korea, and China, embodying a life of service that touched a multitude of lives across the world; and WHEREAS, they are survived by their three children, George Seebert Lauderdale Jr., Lois Ann Lauderdale Hopson, and David Burke Lauderdale, as well as their grandchildren and great-grandchildren, who remember them for their devotion to Jesus and their family. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that the members of this body join in honoring the life and memory of George and Sally Lauderdale. 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 Lauderdale family. ## 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 memory of George and Sally Lauderdale of Jefferson County, longtime ministers, educators, and community leaders in Wrens, Georgia. ### Plain-language summary This resolution from the Georgia House of Representatives is a ceremonial tribute to George Seebert Lauderdale (1929-2017) and Sally Swan Burke Lauderdale (1928-2026), a married couple from Jefferson County, Georgia. It recounts their decades of religious ministry, community service, and family life, including George's founding role with the Christian Broadcasting Network and his radio ministry in the Philippines, and Sally's work as an educator, garden club president, and church Sunday school teacher. The resolution does not change any Georgia law. It formally states that the House joins in honoring the couple and directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to prepare a copy of the resolution for distribution to the Lauderdale family. ### What it does - Formally states that the members of the Georgia House of Representatives join in honoring the life and memory of George and Sally Lauderdale. - Directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to prepare a copy of the resolution for distribution to the Lauderdale family. - Recites biographical details about the couple's ministry, community service, and family, without creating any new law, funding, or program. ### Who it affects This resolution directly affects the surviving family members of George and Sally Lauderdale, including their three children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, who will receive a copy of the resolution. It has no effect on the general public or on Georgia law. ### Why it matters The resolution carries no legal or financial effect and changes no Georgia statute. Its significance is symbolic, offering the Lauderdale family formal recognition from the state legislature and a lasting public record of the couple's life and community contributions. ### Key provisions - The whereas clauses describe George Lauderdale's ministry career, including founding involvement with the Christian Broadcasting Network and a 40-year radio ministry in the Philippines. - The whereas clauses describe Sally Lauderdale's roles as an educator, Erskine Mirror editor, and community leader in Jefferson County. - The resolving clause has the House formally honor the couple's life and memory. - The final clause directs the Clerk of the House to distribute a copy of the resolution to the family. ## Status - Status: Passed (2026-02-06) - Last action: House Read and Adopted (2026-02-06) - Sponsors: Samuel Park, Mack Jackson, Al Williams, Derrick Jackson, Karlton Howard, Brian Prince - Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/72983 > The history, votes, and amendments (131 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1273.md?full=1