---
title: HR 1757. Harden, Reverend Howard D.; honoring the life and memory; condolences
collection: bills
id: 2025-2026/hr1757
cite_as: HR 1757, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1757
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1757.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1757/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/74220
date: 2026-03-18
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/hr1756.md
next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1758.md
index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md
omitted: votes and history
omitted_chars: 131
omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1757.md?full=1
bill_number: HR 1757
session: 2025-2026 Regular Session
session_slug: 2025-2026
chamber: House
bill_type: resolution
status_date: 2026-03-18
last_action: House Read and Adopted
sponsors:
  - Karlton Howard
  - L.C. Myles
  - Carl Gilliard
  - Teddy Reese
text_version: Introduced
has_text: true
legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/HR1757/2025
upstream_id: 2135874
summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5
topic_tags:
  - memorial resolution
  - Georgia House of Representatives
  - Hephzibah Georgia
  - condolence resolution
---

# HR 1757. Harden, Reverend Howard D.; honoring the life and memory; condolences

## Text

House Resolution 1757
By: Representatives Howard of the 129th, Myles of the 126th, Gilliard of the 162nd, and Reese
of the 140th
A RESOLUTION
Honoring the life and memory of Reverend Howard D. Harden; and for other purposes.
WHEREAS, the State of Georgia mourns the loss of one of its most distinguished citizens
with the passing of Reverend Howard D. Harden of Spring Grove Baptist Church in
Hephzibah, Georgia, who peacefully transitioned on March 12, 2026; and
WHEREAS, Reverend Howard D. Harden was a devout servant of God, a faithful pastor, and
an indispensable pillar in the community; and
WHEREAS, following his graduation from the Burke County School System, he served as
a guardian of this nation's freedom and liberty with the United States Army, valiantly and
courageously protecting his fellow Americans; and
WHEREAS, he was united in love and marriage to his wife, Shirley, and was blessed with
seven remarkable children, 18 wonderful grand– and great-grandchildren, and one
exceptional great-great-grandchild; and
WHEREAS, after accepting the call to gospel ministry and being ordained in March 1989,
Reverend Howard D. Harden served for decades as pastor of Mt. Carmel Baptist Church and
Spring Grove Baptist Church, guiding the spiritual, emotional, and mental growth of
countless congregants; and
WHEREAS, his life reflected unwavering faith, compassionate leadership, and a deep
commitment to shepherding and uplifting those he was called to serve—he touched countless
lives with his wisdom, encouragement, and guidance, leaving a lasting imprint on each
congregation he led; and
WHEREAS, beyond the pulpit, he was a loving husband, father, brother, uncle, and
grandfather whose steady presence and kindness brought comfort and inspiration to all of
those closest to him; and
WHEREAS, a compassionate and generous man who demonstrated his commitment to
witnessing Christ through word and deed, Reverend Howard D. Harden will long be
remembered for his love of family, friendship, and community and will be missed by all who
had the great fortune of knowing him.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that
the members of this body join in honoring the life and memory of Reverend Howard D.
Harden and express their deepest and most sincere regret at 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 Reverend Howard D. Harden.

## 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 of Reverend Howard D. Harden of Hephzibah, a longtime pastor and Army veteran who died on March 12, 2026, and offers condolences to his family.

### Plain-language summary

This is a memorial resolution passed by the Georgia House of Representatives to formally recognize the life of Reverend Howard D. Harden, a pastor at Spring Grove Baptist Church in Hephzibah, Georgia, who died on March 12, 2026. The resolution recounts his education in the Burke County School System, his military service in the United States Army, his marriage to his wife Shirley, his children and grandchildren, and his decades of ministry at Mt. Carmel Baptist Church and Spring Grove Baptist Church after his ordination in March 1989.
The resolution does not change any Georgia law. It simply states that the House joins in honoring his memory and expresses condolences, and it directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to send a copy of the resolution to his family.

### What it does

- Formally honors the life and memory of Reverend Howard D. Harden on behalf of the Georgia House of Representatives.
- Expresses the House's official condolences to his family over his passing on March 12, 2026.
- Directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to prepare and send a copy of the resolution to Harden's family.
- Creates no new law, funding, or regulatory requirement; it is a ceremonial tribute rather than a change to the Georgia Code.

### Who it affects

The resolution directly names the family of Reverend Howard D. Harden, including his wife Shirley, his seven children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. It also involves the Clerk of the House of Representatives, who is tasked with distributing a copy of the resolution to the family.

### Why it matters

While the resolution has no legal or regulatory effect, it provides an official, public record of the Georgia House's recognition of Reverend Harden's decades of ministry and military service, giving his family a formal document acknowledging his life and community impact.

### Key provisions

- The resolved clause states that House members join in honoring Harden's life and memory and express sincere regret at his passing.
- A further resolved clause directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to make a copy of the resolution available for distribution to Harden's family.
- The preamble (whereas clauses) recounts his biography: education in the Burke County School System, U.S. Army service, marriage, family, ordination in March 1989, and pastorates at Mt. Carmel Baptist Church and Spring Grove Baptist Church.

## Status

- Status: Passed (2026-03-18)
- Last action: House Read and Adopted (2026-03-18)
- Sponsors: Karlton Howard, L.C. Myles, Carl Gilliard, Teddy Reese
- Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/74220

> The history, votes, and amendments (131 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1757.md?full=1