---
title: HR 1853. Brown, DeLois Laura Mae Draper; honoring the life and memory; condolences
collection: bills
id: 2025-2026/hr1853
cite_as: HR 1853, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1853
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1853.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1853/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/74366
date: 2026-03-23
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/hr1852.md
next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1854.md
index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md
omitted: votes and history
omitted_chars: 131
omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1853.md?full=1
bill_number: HR 1853
session: 2025-2026 Regular Session
session_slug: 2025-2026
chamber: House
bill_type: resolution
status_date: 2026-03-23
last_action: House Read and Adopted
sponsors:
  - Mekyah McQueen
text_version: Introduced
has_text: true
legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/HR1853/2025
upstream_id: 2137372
summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5
topic_tags:
  - condolence resolution
  - Georgia House of Representatives
  - memorial tribute
---

# HR 1853. Brown, DeLois Laura Mae Draper; honoring the life and memory; condolences

## Text

House Resolution 1853
By: Representative McQueen of the 61st
A RESOLUTION
Honoring the life and memory of DeLois Laura Mae Draper Brown; and for other purposes.
WHEREAS, the State of Georgia mourns the loss of one of its most distinguished citizens
with the passing of DeLois Laura Mae Draper Brown on February 12, 2026; and
WHEREAS, DeLois Laura Mae Draper Brown was born on February 19, 1940, in Detroit,
Michigan, a beloved daughter of Hattie Nathan Hall and William Cottrell Draper; and
WHEREAS, during her exemplary life, she was cherished by her loved ones as a natural
healer, listener, and source of support who opened her doors and heart to all, feeding the
hungry, sheltering the weary, and mothering many more than just her own family; and
WHEREAS, she was blessed with four remarkable children, DeLois, Nander IV, Mark, and
Patrick; nine wonderful grandchildren, Essence, Nander V, Courtnee, Patrick Jr., Jazmiene,
Amir, Noah, Jackson, and Mark Jr.; and two outstanding great-grandchildren, Kingsley and
Nander VI; and
WHEREAS, a woman of deep and abiding faith, DeLois Laura Mae Draper Brown modeled
her life after the mystery of the Lord's Cross, serving as a member of St. Augustine Catholic
Church in Washington, D.C., and volunteering extensively with the League of Voters and
Howard University Hospital Diabetics Support Group Inc.; and
WHEREAS, she further enjoyed a distinguished governmental career, serving at the National
Wildlife Federation, United States Geological Survey, Farm Credit Administration, and
Department of Defense until her retirement in 1997; and
WHEREAS, she gave inspiration to many through her high ideals, morals, and deep concern
for her fellow citizens, and the devotion, patience, and understanding she demonstrated to
her family and friends were admired by others; and
WHEREAS, she was a person of magnanimous strengths with an unimpeachable reputation
for integrity, intelligence, fairness, and kindness, and by the example she made of her life,
she made this world a better place in which to live; and
WHEREAS, a compassionate and generous woman, DeLois Laura Mae Draper Brown 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 DeLois Laura Mae Draper
Brown 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 DeLois Laura Mae Draper Brown.

## 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 DeLois Laura Mae Draper Brown, a former federal government employee who died on February 12, 2026, and offers condolences to her family.

### Plain-language summary

This resolution from the Georgia House of Representatives is a formal tribute to DeLois Laura Mae Draper Brown, who passed away on February 12, 2026. It recounts her birth in Detroit, Michigan in 1940, her family life with four children, nine grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren, her Catholic faith and volunteer work, and her career at federal agencies including the National Wildlife Federation, the United States Geological Survey, the Farm Credit Administration, and the Department of Defense until her retirement in 1997.
The resolution does not change any Georgia law. It formally expresses the House's regret at her passing and directs the Clerk of the House to prepare a copy of the resolution for delivery to her family.

### What it does

- Formally expresses the Georgia House of Representatives' regret over the death of DeLois Laura Mae Draper Brown.
- 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 change; it is a ceremonial statement of condolence.

### Who it affects

The resolution directly names the family of DeLois Laura Mae Draper Brown, including her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, and formally involves the Clerk of the House of Representatives, who must prepare and send them a copy.

### Why it matters

The resolution carries no legal or financial effect on Georgians generally. Its practical significance is limited to publicly recording the legislature's respect for Brown's life and providing her family with an official memorial document from the state.

### Key provisions

- The resolved clause states that House members join in honoring her life and memory and express their sincere regret at her passing.
- A further resolved clause directs the Clerk of the House to make a copy of the resolution available for distribution to her family.

## Status

- Status: Passed (2026-03-23)
- Last action: House Read and Adopted (2026-03-23)
- Sponsors: Mekyah McQueen
- Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/74366

> The history, votes, and amendments (131 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1853.md?full=1