--- title: HR 1695. Patton, Dr. Beverly Griffin; receiving the 2026 Yellow Rose Nikki T. Randall Servant Leader Award; commend collection: bills id: 2025-2026/hr1695 cite_as: HR 1695, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.) canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1695 md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1695.md text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1695/text source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/74077 date: 2026-03-12 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/hr1694.md next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1696.md index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md omitted: votes and history omitted_chars: 134 omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1695.md?full=1 bill_number: HR 1695 session: 2025-2026 Regular Session session_slug: 2025-2026 chamber: House bill_type: resolution status_date: 2026-03-12 last_action: House Read and Adopted sponsors: - Lisa Campbell - Sheila Jones - Stacey Evans - Arlene Beckles - Segun Adeyina - Karen Lupton text_version: Introduced has_text: true legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/HR1695/2025 upstream_id: 2133411 summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5 topic_tags: - commendation resolution - community service recognition - Cobb County - Georgia Legislative Women's Caucus --- # HR 1695. Patton, Dr. Beverly Griffin; receiving the 2026 Yellow Rose Nikki T. Randall Servant Leader Award; commend ## Text House Resolution 1695 By: Representatives Campbell of the 35th, Jones of the 60th, Evans of the 57th, Beckles of the 96th, Adeyina of the 110th, and others A RESOLUTION Congratulating and commending Dr. Beverly Griffin Patton for receiving the 2026 Yellow Rose Nikki T. Randall Servant Leader 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 Legislative Women's Caucus; and WHEREAS, every year during Women's History Month, the Georgia Legislative Women's Caucus recognizes outstanding women in Georgia who exemplify the leadership and inspiration embodied by Representative Randall; and WHEREAS, born the sixth of eight children to the late Willis E. and Corrie L. (Rice) Griffin in Acworth, Georgia, Dr. Beverly Griffin Patton is mother to a biological son and granddaughter, Vance Patton and Summer Reign, and a host of other sons, daughters, and grandchildren; and WHEREAS, a visionary leader, storyteller, and social justice advocate, Dr. Beverly Griffin Patton has transformed the lives of thousands of individuals during her service as Membership Chair and her Lifetime Membership within the NAACP; and WHEREAS, through her dedication and passion for amplifying the stories of Acworth's Black community members, she has served as Vice-President on Acworth's Historic Preservation Committee, Member of Acworth's Development Authority, and Vice-President of the Old Rosenwald Community Center as well as assisted in the writing of "A Place to Remember," documenting Black life in Acworth; and WHEREAS, Dr. Beverly Griffin Patton's passion for community service further includes her work to assist Kennesaw State University in recording more than 500 pictures in their archives of Black life in Acworth as well as her active engagement with the United Way, Must Ministry, Barber Middle School, Georgia Democratic Party, P.L.O.G.—Political Ladies of Georgia, North Cobb Senior Center in Acworth, and GirlTrek-National Organization for Self Care of Black Women; and WHEREAS, Dr. Beverly Griffin Patton received her Bachelor of Theology from Antioch Bible College, masters in Christian Education, doctorate degree in Christian Education, and PhD in Christian Education, all from Antioch College; and WHEREAS, she was active in her church as a Member of Zion Hill Missionary Baptist in Acworth; served as Sunday School Teacher, Superintendent, Youth Coordinator, Youth Choir, Youth and Adult Usher Boards, and Church Clerk for 37 years; and was later Called and licensed as an Ordained Minister; and WHEREAS, she is a woman of unassuming greatness whose humble acts of kindness and generosity have uplifted those in need in the Belize and Costa Rica as well as in Acworth; and WHEREAS, Dr. Beverly Griffin Patton has established a glowing reputation of renown throughout Cobb County and Georgia for her deep personal commitment to the wellbeing of her fellow citizens; and WHEREAS, it is abundantly fitting and proper that the outstanding accomplishments of this extraordinary servant leader be appropriately recognized. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that the members of this body congratulate and commend Dr. Beverly Griffin Patton 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 Dr. Beverly Griffin Patton. ## 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 Dr. Beverly Griffin Patton of Acworth for receiving the 2026 Yellow Rose Nikki T. Randall Servant Leader Award, recognizing her community service and civic work. ### Plain-language summary This House resolution is a ceremonial measure that congratulates Dr. Beverly Griffin Patton for receiving the 2026 Yellow Rose Nikki T. Randall Servant Leader Award, an honor given each year during Women's History Month by the Georgia Legislative Women's Caucus. The resolution recounts her background, including her education in Christian ministry, her decades of church service in Acworth, her NAACP membership work, her role preserving Black history in Acworth through projects like a Kennesaw State University photo archive, and her community involvement with groups such as the United Way and GirlTrek. The resolution's only operative actions are formal: the House of Representatives commends her and wishes her continued success, and directs the Clerk of the House to prepare a copy of the resolution for her. It does not change any Georgia law, create programs, or spend state money. ### What it does - Formally congratulates and commends Dr. Beverly Griffin Patton for receiving the 2026 Yellow Rose Nikki T. Randall Servant Leader Award. - Directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to prepare and distribute a copy of the resolution to Dr. Patton. - Extends the House's best wishes for her continued success but creates no new legal rights, funding, or requirements. ### Who it affects The resolution directly names and honors Dr. Beverly Griffin Patton. It has no regulatory or financial effect on other Georgians, agencies, or businesses; it is a symbolic gesture by the House of Representatives. ### Why it matters This measure has no practical effect on Georgia law or residents beyond formally recognizing one individual's community service. Its significance is symbolic, marking her contributions to civic and religious life in Acworth and Cobb County. ### Key provisions - The resolution recites Dr. Patton's biography, education, church service, and community work as background (whereas clauses). - The resolved clause has the House congratulate and commend her for the award and wish her continued success. - A further resolved clause directs the Clerk of the House to make a copy available for distribution to her. ## Status - Status: Passed (2026-03-12) - Last action: House Read and Adopted (2026-03-12) - Sponsors: Lisa Campbell, Sheila Jones, Stacey Evans, Arlene Beckles, Segun Adeyina, Karen Lupton - Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/74077 > The history, votes, and amendments (134 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1695.md?full=1