---
title: HR 1647. Edwards, Shelia; receiving the 2026 Yellow Rose Nikki T. Randall Servant Leadership Award; commend
collection: bills
id: 2025-2026/hr1647
cite_as: HR 1647, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1647
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1647.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1647/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/73984
date: 2026-03-06
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.
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next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1648.md
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omitted: votes and history
omitted_chars: 131
omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1647.md?full=1
bill_number: HR 1647
session: 2025-2026 Regular Session
session_slug: 2025-2026
chamber: House
bill_type: resolution
status_date: 2026-03-06
last_action: House Read and Adopted
sponsors:
  - Terry Cummings
  - Lisa Campbell
  - Sheila Jones
  - Arlene Beckles
text_version: Introduced
has_text: true
legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/HR1647/2025
upstream_id: 2130743
summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5
topic_tags:
  - ceremonial resolution
  - Cobb County
  - community advocacy
  - Georgia House of Representatives
---

# HR 1647. Edwards, Shelia; receiving the 2026 Yellow Rose Nikki T. Randall Servant Leadership Award; commend

## Text

House Resolution 1647
By: Representatives Cummings of the 39th, Campbell of the 35th, Jones of the 60th, and
Beckles of the 96th
A RESOLUTION
Congratulating and commending Shelia Edwards for receiving the 2026 Yellow Rose Nikki
T. Randall Servant Leadership Award; and for other purposes.
WHEREAS, in 1999, Representative Nikki T. Randall became the first African American
female elected to the General Assembly from middle Georgia, and over her 17 years of
service as a legislator, she held numerous leadership positions, including chair of the Georgia
Women's Legislative Caucus; and
WHEREAS, every year during Women's History Month, the Georgia Women's Legislative
Caucus recognizes outstanding women in Georgia who exemplify the leadership and
inspiration embodied by Representative Randall; and
WHEREAS, in her home community of Cobb County, Shelia Edwards is a highly visible
advocate on quality-of-life issues, housing, and public safety, and is widely sought after for
her community advocacy and proven record of grassroots impact; and
WHEREAS, she successfully organized residents to prevent a waste company from
expanding operations into an already overburdened neighborhood near the Chattahoochee
River, demonstrating her commitment to environmental justice and community protection;
and
WHEREAS, as Publicist for Olympic Gold Medalist Mel Pender, Shelia works closely with
Mel and Dr. Debbie Pender to elevate the visibility, credibility, and impact of the Mel Pender
Foundation; and
WHEREAS, in addition to leading media strategy, Shelia helps position the foundation for
grants, sponsorships, and strategic partnerships that support sustainable growth and
community impact; and
WHEREAS, from executive positioning to crisis communications, she serves as the
foundation's trusted voice–bringing strategic clarity, reputation management, and a
solutions-driven approach to every engagement for a hometown Olympic hero; and
WHEREAS, Shelia is also the Publisher of Spotlight South Cobb News, a weekly online
publication dedicated to informing South Cobb and Metro Atlanta communities about issues
that impact their lives; and
WHEREAS, a proud first-generation college graduate, Shelia earned her Bachelor of Arts
in Communications from Benedict College, completing her degree in three and a half years,
and later completed leadership and management certifications at Emory University Goizueta
Business School; and
WHEREAS, she is currently pursuing a Master of Public Policy at the Andrew Young
School of Policy Studies at Georgia State University; and
WHEREAS, beyond her professional work, Shelia is deeply engaged in civic and
philanthropic leadership; and
WHEREAS, she currently serves as Co-Chair of the UNCF Mayor's Masked Ball, working
with various Mayors during their terms in office, and helping raise millions of dollars
annually to support students attending HBCUs; and
WHEREAS, she has served on the boards of Women Looking Ahead, AMAC, and SGF
Foundation, as well as remains active with numerous organizations, including the National
Coalition of 100 Black Women, Inc. (Metro Atlanta Chapter); Atlanta Neighborhood
Development Partnership; Cobb County Democracy Center; Cobb SCLC; Atlanta Chamber
of Commerce; Atlanta Business League; Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.; and the United
Negro College Fund; and
WHEREAS, with expertise spanning communications, government and community
engagement, campaign management, operations, budgeting, fundraising, event planning, and
digital strategy, Shelia Edwards continues to be a powerful force in shaping policy,
strengthening communities, and elevating voices that too often go unheard.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that
the members of this body congratulate and commend Shelia Edwards for receiving the 2026
Yellow Rose Nikki T. Randall Servant Leadership Award and extend best wishes for her
continued success.
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 Shelia
Edwards.

## 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 Shelia Edwards of Cobb County for receiving the 2026 Yellow Rose Nikki T. Randall Servant Leadership Award, recognizing her community advocacy and civic work.

### Plain-language summary

This is a ceremonial resolution from the Georgia House of Representatives, not a change to state law. It congratulates Shelia Edwards, a Cobb County community advocate, publicist, and publisher, for receiving the 2026 Yellow Rose Nikki T. Randall Servant Leadership Award, an honor given each year during Women's History Month by the Georgia Women's Legislative Caucus.
The resolution recounts her advocacy on housing, public safety, and environmental issues, her work as publicist for Olympic gold medalist Mel Pender's foundation, her role as publisher of Spotlight South Cobb News, her education, and her civic and philanthropic involvement with numerous organizations. The House resolves to commend her and directs the Clerk of the House to provide her a copy of the resolution.

### What it does

- Formally congratulates and commends Shelia Edwards for receiving the 2026 Yellow Rose Nikki T. Randall Servant Leadership Award.
- Recites her community advocacy work in Cobb County on housing, public safety, and environmental issues near the Chattahoochee River.
- Recognizes her professional roles as publicist for the Mel Pender Foundation and publisher of Spotlight South Cobb News.
- Directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to prepare and distribute a copy of the resolution to Shelia Edwards.

### Who it affects

This resolution directly names and honors Shelia Edwards, a Cobb County community advocate. It does not create legal obligations for other Georgians, though it references organizations she works with, such as the Mel Pender Foundation and UNCF.

### Why it matters

As a ceremonial honor, this resolution does not change any Georgia law or create new rights or obligations. Its practical effect is limited to publicly recognizing Shelia Edwards's community work and providing her an official copy of the House's commendation.

### Key provisions

- The resolving clause states the House of Representatives congratulates and commends Shelia Edwards for the award and wishes her continued success.
- A further resolution directs the Clerk of the House to make an appropriate copy available for distribution to Shelia Edwards.
- The preamble (whereas clauses) details her advocacy, career, education, and civic involvement but carries no legal force.

## Status

- Status: Passed (2026-03-06)
- Last action: House Read and Adopted (2026-03-06)
- Sponsors: Terry Cummings, Lisa Campbell, Sheila Jones, Arlene Beckles
- Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/73984

> The history, votes, and amendments (131 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1647.md?full=1