---
title: HR 1834. Cofer, Dorothy; honoring the life and memory; condolences
collection: bills
id: 2025-2026/hr1834
cite_as: HR 1834, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1834
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1834.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1834/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/74336
date: 2026-03-20
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/hr1833.md
next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1835.md
index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md
omitted: votes and history
omitted_chars: 134
omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1834.md?full=1
bill_number: HR 1834
session: 2025-2026 Regular Session
session_slug: 2025-2026
chamber: House
bill_type: resolution
status_date: 2026-03-20
last_action: House Read and Adopted
sponsors:
  - Gary Richardson
  - Mack Jackson
text_version: Introduced
has_text: true
legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/HR1834/2025
upstream_id: 2136826
summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5
topic_tags:
  - commemorative resolution
  - McDuffie County
  - Georgia House of Representatives
  - community service tribute
---

# HR 1834. Cofer, Dorothy; honoring the life and memory; condolences

## Text

House Resolution 1834
By: Representatives Richardson of the 125th and Jackson of the 128th
A RESOLUTION
Honoring the life and memory of Dorothy Cofer; and for other purposes.
WHEREAS, the State of Georgia mourns the loss of one of its most distinguished citizens
with the passing of Dorothy “Dot” Cofer on February 15, 2026; and
WHEREAS, Dorothy Cofer was born in Athens, Georgia, a beloved daughter of Charles
Hamlin Tappan Jr. and Dorothy Florence Stone Tappan; and
WHEREAS, she was blessed with two remarkable children, Rhonwyn and David; and
WHEREAS, a woman of deep and abiding faith, Dorothy Cofer was an active member of
Thomson First Methodist Church, where she served in the church's yearly medical missions
to Honduras, conduced mini-health fairs to increase medical access in areas with limited
services, as well as served on the church's health and welfare committee; and
WHEREAS, Dorothy Cofer had a long and successful career in McDuffie County, Georgia,
as the Extension Service Home Economist from 1969 until her retirement in 1996; and
WHEREAS, among her many proud career achievements, one of the biggest was her annual
McDuffie County Health Fair, where for over 42 years she coordinated almost 200
volunteers; served between 500 and 700 participants, many of whom traveled from
neighboring states to attend; and was recognized in 1991 by the World Health Organization
as the top health fair in the country; and
WHEREAS, though her main career focus was on her Extension Service career, she was also
active with teaching DNR Hunter Safety Courses, was on the McDuffie Expo committee and
Thomsons's Olympic Celebration committee, and was a substitute teacher at Thomson High
School; and
WHEREAS, a compassionate and generous woman, Dorothy Cofer will long be remembered
for her love of family, friendship, and community and will be missed by all who had the
great fortune of knowing her.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that
the members of this body join in honoring the life and memory of Dorothy Cofer and express
their deepest and most sincere regret at her 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 Dorothy Cofer.

## 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 Dorothy Cofer, a longtime McDuffie County Extension Service Home Economist and community health advocate who died on February 15, 2026.

### Plain-language summary

This is a House resolution, a formal statement passed by the Georgia House of Representatives that does not change any law. It recognizes the life and passing of Dorothy 'Dot' Cofer of Thomson, Georgia, who died on February 15, 2026.
The resolution recounts her nearly 27-year career as McDuffie County's Extension Service Home Economist, her decades organizing the McDuffie County Health Fair, and her volunteer work with her church, Hunter Safety courses, and local community committees. It directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to prepare a copy of the resolution for her family.

### What it does

- Formally expresses the House of Representatives' condolences on the death of Dorothy Cofer.
- Recounts her career as McDuffie County's Extension Service Home Economist from 1969 to 1996.
- Directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to prepare and distribute a copy of the resolution to her family.
- Creates no new law, funding, or regulatory requirement.

### Who it affects

This resolution primarily affects the family and community of Dorothy Cofer, including her children Rhonwyn and David, her church community at Thomson First Methodist Church, and residents of McDuffie County who benefited from her health fair and extension work.

### Why it matters

While the resolution carries no legal or regulatory effect, it provides an official, public record of the Georgia House of Representatives' recognition of Dorothy Cofer's decades of community service, giving her family and community a formal expression of remembrance from the state legislature.

### Key provisions

- The resolution's preamble ('WHEREAS' clauses) details Dorothy Cofer's life, family, career, and community service.
- The resolution formally honors her life and memory and expresses the House's condolences.
- It directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to make a copy available for distribution to her family.

## Status

- Status: Passed (2026-03-20)
- Last action: House Read and Adopted (2026-03-20)
- Sponsors: Gary Richardson, Mack Jackson
- Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/74336

> The history, votes, and amendments (134 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1834.md?full=1