---
title: HR 2079. Arrington, Betty "Becky" Lou Ennis; honoring the life and legacy; condolences
collection: bills
id: 2025-2026/hr2079
cite_as: HR 2079, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr2079
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr2079.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr2079/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/74680
date: 2026-03-31
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/hr2078.md
next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr2080.md
index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md
omitted: votes and history
omitted_chars: 131
omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr2079.md?full=1
bill_number: HR 2079
session: 2025-2026 Regular Session
session_slug: 2025-2026
chamber: House
bill_type: resolution
status_date: 2026-03-31
last_action: House Read and Adopted
sponsors:
  - Viola Davis
  - Karla Drenner
  - Billy Mitchell
  - Dar'shun Kendrick
  - Mary Oliver
  - Sandra Scott
text_version: Introduced
has_text: true
legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/HR2079/2025
upstream_id: 2140102
summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5
topic_tags:
  - memorial resolution
  - Georgia House of Representatives
  - DeKalb County
  - Georgia State Capitol staff
---

# HR 2079. Arrington, Betty "Becky" Lou Ennis; honoring the life and legacy; condolences

## Text

House Resolution 2079
By: Representatives Davis of the 87th, Drenner of the 85th, Mitchell of the 88th, Kendrick of
the 95th, Oliver of the 84th, and others
A RESOLUTION
Honoring the life and legacy of Betty “Becky” Lou Ennis Arrington; and for other purposes.
WHEREAS, the members of this body pause to honor and remember the life of Betty
"Becky" Lou Ennis Arrington, a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and
faithful servant of her family, community, and state; and
WHEREAS, Betty “Becky” Lou Ennis Arrington was born on May 16, 1936, in the
Goodyear Mill Village in Atco, Georgia, the third of four children born to Tom Ennis of
North Carolina and Minnie Clyde Ennis of Barneswille, Georgia; and
WHEREAS, after her parents’ divorce when she was a young girl, Becky returned with her
mother and sister to Barnesville, Georgia, where early hardship shaped in her a quiet
strength, humility, resilience, and dignity that defined her character throughout her life; and
WHEREAS, upon graduating high school, Becky moved to Atlanta to pursue opportunity
and independence, beginning a career marked by diligence, integrity, and service in payroll,
taxes, and administrative leadership, including work at Hartford Insurance, JCPenney,
DeKalb County government, and later the Georgia State Capitol; and
WHEREAS, on June 17, 1955, at the age of 19, Becky married the love of her life, Joe Boy
Arrington, beginning a sacred union that endured for seventy years and stood as a living
testament to faithfulness, partnership, and devotion; and
WHEREAS, Becky and Joe raised two children, Scott Arrington and Amy Jo Arrington
Powers, instilling in them the enduring values of compassion, responsibility, faith, education,
and the Golden Rule-“to treat others as you would want to be treated”; and
WHEREAS, Becky exemplified the strength of working women long before such efforts
were widely recognized, balancing employment with motherhood in ways that ensured her
children were always nurtured, supported, and guided, rejecting the notion that care could
be delegated when presence mattered most; and
WHEREAS, after retiring from JCPenney, following more than twenty-five years of service,
Becky continued to serve her community as a chief of staff to a DeKalb County
Commissioner and later as a seasonal staff member at the Georgia State Capitol well into her
late seventies, admired for her professionalism, work ethic, and kindness; and
WHEREAS, Becky's generosity extended far beyond her professional life, as she was known
for baking and sharing homemade cakes, cookies, and pastries–often giving away more than
she sold–using her gifts to bring joy, welcome neighbors, comfort children, and build
community wherever she lived; and
WHEREAS, Becky faced physical challenges later in life with courage and determination,
meeting surgeries and rehabilitation with remarkable resolve, inspiring all who witnessed her
perseverance and unwavering spirit; and
WHEREAS, a woman of faith, Becky lived her life in quiet service, humility, and love,
embodying the virtues celebrated in Proverbs 31:10-31, and leaving a legacy that reflects a
life well lived and deeply cherished; and
WHEREAS, Becky departed this life on December 22, 2025, at the age of 89, leaving behind
her devoted husband Joe Arrington, her children and their spouses, as well as her
grandchildren, great-grandchildren, extended family, and countless friends and neighbors
whose lives were enriched by her presence.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that
the members of this body honor the life, service, and memory of Betty "Becky" Lou Ennis
Arrington, and extend its deepest sympathy to her 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 Betty "Becky" Lou Ennis Arrington.

## 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 Betty "Becky" Lou Ennis Arrington, a longtime DeKalb County and Georgia State Capitol staff member, and offers condolences to her family.

### Plain-language summary

This resolution is a formal statement from the Georgia House of Representatives recognizing the life of Betty "Becky" Lou Ennis Arrington, who died on December 22, 2025, at age 89. It recounts her upbringing in Barnesville, Georgia, her decades-long marriage, her career in payroll and administration including work at DeKalb County government and the Georgia State Capitol, and her community involvement.
The resolution does not change any Georgia law. It formally states the House's recognition of her life and service and directs the Clerk of the House to prepare a copy of the resolution for delivery to her family as a gesture of sympathy.

### What it does

- Formally recognizes and honors the life and service of Betty "Becky" Lou Ennis Arrington on behalf of the Georgia House of Representatives.
- Extends the House's sympathy to her surviving husband, children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and extended family.
- Directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to prepare and distribute a copy of the resolution to her family.

### Who it affects

This resolution primarily affects the family of Betty "Becky" Lou Ennis Arrington, who will receive an official copy, and the Clerk of the House, who is tasked with preparing and distributing it. It has no effect on the public at large or on Georgia law.

### Why it matters

While the resolution carries no legal or regulatory effect, it provides an official, public acknowledgment from the Georgia House of Representatives of a private citizen's life and community contributions, offering her family a formal record of recognition and condolence.

### Key provisions

- The resolution's whereas clauses recount her birth, family history, career, marriage, and community service.
- The first resolving clause states the House honors her life, service, and memory and extends sympathy to her family.
- The second resolving clause directs the Clerk of the House to make a copy of the resolution available for distribution to her family.

## Status

- Status: Passed (2026-03-31)
- Last action: House Read and Adopted (2026-03-31)
- Sponsors: Viola Davis, Karla Drenner, Billy Mitchell, Dar'shun Kendrick, Mary Oliver, Sandra Scott
- Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/74680

> The history, votes, and amendments (131 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr2079.md?full=1