---
title: HR 2002. Smith, Howard Edward; honoring the life and memory; condolences
collection: bills
id: 2025-2026/hr2002
cite_as: HR 2002, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr2002
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr2002.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr2002/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/74576
date: 2026-03-27
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/hr2001.md
next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr2003.md
index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md
omitted: votes and history
omitted_chars: 134
omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr2002.md?full=1
bill_number: HR 2002
session: 2025-2026 Regular Session
session_slug: 2025-2026
chamber: House
bill_type: resolution
status_date: 2026-03-27
last_action: House Read and Adopted
sponsors:
  - Jutt Howard
  - David Huddleston
  - Tyler Smith
  - Lynn Smith
text_version: Introduced
has_text: true
legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/HR2002/2025
upstream_id: 2139207
summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5
topic_tags:
  - condolence resolution
  - Georgia House of Representatives
  - Clarkesville Georgia
  - memorial tribute
---

# HR 2002. Smith, Howard Edward; honoring the life and memory; condolences

## Text

House Resolution 2002
By: Representatives Howard of the 71st, Huddleston of the 72nd, Smith of the 18th, and Smith
of the 70th
A RESOLUTION
Honoring the life and memory of Howard Edward Smith; and for other purposes.
WHEREAS, the State of Georgia mourns the loss of one of its most distinguished citizens
with the passing of Howard Edward Smith on March 14, 2026; and
WHEREAS, Howard Edward Smith, known to most as "Big Ed" and affectionately called
"Biggs" by his grandchildren, was born in Clarkesville, Georgia, a beloved son of Garnett
Edward and Mazie Dockery Smith; and
WHEREAS, a man of deep and abiding faith, Ed was an active member of First Baptist
Church for over sixty years; and
WHEREAS, he was united in love and marriage to his wife, Louise, and was blessed with
three remarkable children, Brad, Marty, and Chris, as well as seven wonderful grandchildren
and five magnificent great grandchildren; and
WHEREAS, he gave inspiration to many through his high ideals, morals, and deep concern
for his fellow citizens, and the devotion, patience, and understanding he demonstrated to his
family and friends were admired by others; and
WHEREAS, deeply devoted to his community, Ed was well known for performing
anonymous acts of kindness, preferring to help others without fanfare or recognition; and
WHEREAS, he was a person of magnanimous strengths with an unimpeachable reputation
for integrity, intelligence, fairness, and kindness, and by the example he made of his life, he
made this world a better place in which to live; and
WHEREAS, a compassionate and generous man, Ed 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 Howard Edward Smith 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 Howard Edward Smith..

## 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 Howard Edward Smith of Clarkesville, who died on March 14, 2026, and offers condolences to his family.

### Plain-language summary

This resolution from the Georgia House of Representatives is a ceremonial tribute to Howard Edward Smith, a longtime resident of Clarkesville, Georgia, who passed away on March 14, 2026. It recounts his life, including his decades-long membership at First Baptist Church, his marriage to his wife Louise, and his children and grandchildren.
The resolution does not change any Georgia law. It formally states that the House joins in honoring his memory and expresses regret at his passing, then directs the Clerk of the House to prepare a copy of the resolution for delivery to his family.

### What it does

- Formally expresses the Georgia House of Representatives' condolences over the death of Howard Edward Smith.
- Recounts biographical details about Smith's life, family, faith, and community involvement for the official record.
- Directs the Clerk of the House to prepare and distribute a copy of the resolution to Smith's family.

### Who it affects

This resolution directly affects the family of Howard Edward Smith, who will receive an official copy, and has no broader legal effect on other Georgians, businesses, or government agencies.

### Why it matters

The resolution carries no legal or regulatory weight and changes no Georgia law. Its significance is purely ceremonial, giving the Smith family a formal, public expression of the legislature's sympathy and recognition of his life.

### Key provisions

- The resolution's whereas clauses describe Smith's birth in Clarkesville, his family, his faith, and his community reputation.
- The resolved clause has the House of Representatives formally honor his memory and express regret at his passing.
- A further resolved clause directs the Clerk of the House to prepare a copy for distribution to his family.

## Status

- Status: Passed (2026-03-27)
- Last action: House Read and Adopted (2026-03-27)
- Sponsors: Jutt Howard, David Huddleston, Tyler Smith, Lynn Smith
- Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/74576

> The history, votes, and amendments (134 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr2002.md?full=1