---
title: HR 1762. Pete, Mickiel "Mike" Dewayne; honoring the life and memory; condolences
collection: bills
id: 2025-2026/hr1762
cite_as: HR 1762, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1762
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1762.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1762/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/74225
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/hr1761.md
next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1763.md
index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md
omitted: votes and history
omitted_chars: 131
omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1762.md?full=1
bill_number: HR 1762
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:
  - Mary Ann Santos
text_version: Introduced
has_text: true
legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/HR1762/2025
upstream_id: 2135896
summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5
topic_tags:
  - condolence resolution
  - Georgia House of Representatives
  - memorial resolution
  - Augusta Georgia
---

# HR 1762. Pete, Mickiel "Mike" Dewayne; honoring the life and memory; condolences

## Text

House Resolution 1762
By: Representative Santos of the 117th
A RESOLUTION
Honoring the life and memory of Mickiel "Mike" Dewayne Pete; and for other purposes.
WHEREAS, the members of the Georgia House of Representatives mourn the passing of one
of Georgia's distinguished citizens, Mickiel "Mike" Dewayne Pete, who departed this life on
March 9, 2026, at the age of 60; and
WHEREAS, Mickiel Dewayne Pete was born on October 7, 1965, in Killeen, Texas, at Fort
Hood Army Base Hospital, the beloved son of Willie Pete and Marjorie Pete; and
WHEREAS, at the age of nine, he moved with his family to Augusta, Georgia, where he
would later graduate from Glenn Hills High School in 1983, beginning a life defined by
discipline, service, and determination; and
WHEREAS, following his graduation, Mr. Pete honorably served his country in the United
States Marine Corps, receiving an honorable discharge and demonstrating the commitment
to duty and leadership that would guide him throughout his life; and
WHEREAS, after his military service, Mr. Pete pursued higher education at Augusta
College, earning a degree in political science, and continued his academic journey through
legal studies at the University of Florida before transferring to the University of Georgia
School of Law, where he proudly became a Bulldawg and earned his Juris Doctor in 1992;
and
WHEREAS, he successfully passed the Georgia State Bar Examination and later furthered
his legal scholarship by earning a Master of Environmental Law from Tulane University in
New Orleans, Louisiana; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Pete returned to serve in the United States Marine Corps as a Judge
Advocate General (JAG) officer, practicing law while serving his nation and earning the
nickname "Mad Dog" for his tenacity and fearless advocacy, ultimately retiring at the rank
of captain; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Pete dedicated his professional life to the pursuit of justice, founding the
Pete Law Firm with his brother, Anthony Pete, and later working with the Cochran Firm of
Atlanta, where he assisted in significant civil litigation matters; and
WHEREAS, he later continued his distinguished legal career at the Nicola Cummings Law
Firm in McDonough, Georgia, where he practiced criminal defense and personal injury law,
providing steadfast advocacy and compassionate representation to countless clients; and
WHEREAS, in August 2018, Mr. Pete met the love of his life, Nicola Cummings, and the
two were married shortly thereafter, forming a partnership grounded in love, mutual respect,
and shared professional purpose; and
WHEREAS, together they built a life of adventure and discovery, traveling the world and
visiting destinations including England, Venice, Paris, the Dominican Republic, Cozumel,
and numerous islands throughout the Caribbean, creating cherished memories along the way;
and
WHEREAS, Mr. Pete was preceded in death by his parents, Willie Pete and Marjorie Pete;
his beloved son, Mickell Pete, who passed away in 2014 at the age of 14; and his brother,
Cedric Pete, who passed away in 2025; and
WHEREAS, he leaves behind a loving family who will forever cherish his memory,
including his devoted wife, Nicola Cummings, and her son, Troy Luke Jr.; his brothers,
Willie L. Pete (Marie Pete), Anthony Pete (Laconia Pete), and Daniel Ross; his nieces and
nephews, Christopher Pete, Michael Anthony Pete, Willie Pete Jr., Jillian Lopez (Luis
Lopez), Dr. Tionne Pete, Alexia Pete, Simone Pete, and Daniel N. Ross; his great-niece,
Rosalee Lopez, and great-nephews, Ezekiel Lopez and Daniel Lopez; as well as numerous
loving aunts, uncles, cousins, colleagues, and friends; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Pete's life was marked by service to his country, dedication to the legal
profession, and deep love for his family, and his character, integrity, and tireless advocacy
have left an indelible mark on the communities he served; and
WHEREAS, it is abundantly fitting and proper that the outstanding life and legacy of this
distinguished Georgian be recognized by this body.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that
the members of this body honor the life and memory of Mickiel "Mike" Dewayne Pete and
express their deepest and most sincere condolences to his family and loved ones.
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 Mickiel "Mike" Dewayne Pete.

## 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 formally honors the life of Mickiel "Mike" Dewayne Pete, an Augusta attorney and Marine Corps veteran who died in March 2026, and extends condolences to his family.

### Plain-language summary

This resolution is a ceremonial measure passed by the Georgia House of Representatives to recognize the life of Mickiel "Mike" Dewayne Pete, who died on March 9, 2026, at age 60. It recounts his upbringing in Augusta, his service in the United States Marine Corps, his legal education and career as an attorney practicing criminal defense and personal injury law, and his family life with his wife Nicola Cummings.
The resolution does not change any Georgia law. It simply states that the House honors his memory and expresses condolences to his family, and it directs the Clerk of the House to prepare a copy of the resolution for distribution to his relatives.

### What it does

- Formally states that the Georgia House of Representatives honors the life and memory of Mickiel "Mike" Dewayne Pete.
- Expresses the House's condolences to Pete's family and loved ones following his death on March 9, 2026.
- Directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to prepare and distribute a copy of the resolution to Pete's family.
- Creates no new law, funding, or regulatory change; it is a symbolic tribute recorded in the House's official proceedings.

### Who it affects

This resolution directly names and affects the family of Mickiel "Mike" Dewayne Pete, including his wife Nicola Cummings, his brothers, nieces, nephews, and other relatives, as well as the Clerk of the House of Representatives, who must prepare the copy for distribution.

### Why it matters

The resolution carries no legal or regulatory effect on Georgians generally. Its practical significance is limited to providing the Pete family with an official state document recognizing his life and service, and placing that recognition in the House's public record.

### Key provisions

- The resolution recites Pete's biography, including his birth in Killeen, Texas, his upbringing in Augusta, and his education at Augusta College, the University of Florida, and the University of Georgia School of Law.
- It notes his military service in the United States Marine Corps, including his later role as a Judge Advocate General (JAG) officer, and his legal career including founding the Pete Law Firm.
- The resolved clause states the House honors his memory and offers condolences to his family.
- A further resolved clause directs the Clerk of the House to make a copy available for distribution to his family.

## Status

- Status: Passed (2026-03-18)
- Last action: House Read and Adopted (2026-03-18)
- Sponsors: Mary Ann Santos
- Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/74225

> The history, votes, and amendments (131 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1762.md?full=1