---
title: HR 21. Burnough, Representative Rhonda; 50th Anniversary as a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated; recognize
collection: bills
id: 2025-2026/hr21
cite_as: HR 21, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr21
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr21.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr21/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/69362
date: 2025-01-14
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/hr20.md
next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr22.md
index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md
omitted: votes and history
omitted_chars: 131
omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr21.md?full=1
bill_number: HR 21
session: 2025-2026 Regular Session
session_slug: 2025-2026
chamber: House
bill_type: resolution
status_date: 2025-01-14
last_action: House Read and Adopted
sponsors:
  - Viola Davis
  - Carolyn Hugley
  - Sheila Jones
  - Edna Jackson
  - Terry Cummings
  - Mekyah McQueen
text_version: Introduced
has_text: true
legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/HR21/2025
upstream_id: 1919110
summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5
topic_tags:
  - legislative honors
  - Delta Sigma Theta Sorority
  - Clayton County
  - Georgia House of Representatives
---

# HR 21. Burnough, Representative Rhonda; 50th Anniversary as a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated; recognize

## Text

House Resolution 21
By: Representatives Davis of the 87th, Hugley of the 141st, Jones of the 60th, Jackson of the
165th, Cummings of the 39th, and others
A RESOLUTION
Honoring and celebrating Representative Rhonda Burnough on her 50th Anniversary as a
member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated; and for other purposes.
WHEREAS, Representative Rhonda Burnough, a distinguished member of the Georgia
House of Representatives for District 77, has dedicated her life to public service, community
advocacy, and education while serving as an exemplary member of Delta Sigma Theta
Sorority, Incorporated, for 50 years; and
WHEREAS, Representative Burnough has faithfully represented the citizens of House
District 77, which includes portions of Clayton County, since her election in 2016 while
advancing causes that benefit the community both before and during her legislative tenure;
and
WHEREAS, her career in public education has been marked by the creation and
implementation of impactful programs such as the DAY ONE initiative, which promotes a
positive start to the school year, and the Celebrity Reader program, where community leaders
read to students, fostering literacy and engagement; and
WHEREAS, she has founded several community organizations, including 500 Men Standing
in the GAP and 500 Women Standing in the GAP, encouraging parental and community
involvement in the lives of children as well as further demonstrating her unwavering
commitment to community development; and
WHEREAS, Representative Burnough's contributions have been recognized through
numerous prestigious honors, including the 2013 National Community and Service Award
and the 2012 Gold Volunteer Service Award, both bestowed by President Barack Obama in
recognition of her extraordinary public service; and
WHEREAS, she has remained a committed and active member of the East Point/College
Park Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated, exemplifying the values
of sisterhood, scholarship, and service for five decades; and
WHEREAS, Representative Rhonda Burnough led a heartfelt campaign to establish Purple
Heart Cities in Clayton County, recognizing the bravery and sacrifices of our military
veterans who were wounded or killed in combat. This initiative is a powerful step toward
showing gratitude to those who have given so much for our nation. By designating Purple
Heart Cities, we strengthen our community's commitment to honoring our heroes and
preserving their legacy; and
WHEREAS, her legislative accomplishments, community leadership, and educational
advocacy have left an indelible mark on her community and the State of Georgia, inspiring
countless individuals through her tireless work and dedication to service.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that
the members of this body do hereby recognize and honor Representative Rhonda Burnough
on the occasion of her 50th anniversary as a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority,
Incorporated; commend her for her lifelong dedication to public service and community
empowerment; and extend our heartfelt congratulations on this remarkable milestone.
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
Representative Rhonda Burnough.

## 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 Representative Rhonda Burnough of District 77 for her 50th anniversary as a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated, and for her public service career.

### Plain-language summary

This resolution is a ceremonial statement from the Georgia House of Representatives recognizing Representative Rhonda Burnough, who represents House District 77 in parts of Clayton County. It celebrates her 50 years as a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated, and highlights her work in public education, including programs like DAY ONE and the Celebrity Reader program, as well as community organizations she founded such as 500 Men Standing in the GAP and 500 Women Standing in the GAP.
The resolution also notes her past national service awards and her campaign to establish Purple Heart Cities in Clayton County to honor wounded or killed veterans. It does not create any new law, funding, or requirement. It simply commends her and directs the Clerk of the House to provide her with a copy of the resolution.

### What it does

- Formally recognizes and honors Representative Rhonda Burnough for 50 years as a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated.
- Commends her for her career in public education, including programs she created such as DAY ONE and the Celebrity Reader program.
- Recognizes community organizations she founded, including 500 Men Standing in the GAP and 500 Women Standing in the GAP.
- Directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to prepare and distribute a copy of the resolution to Representative Burnough.
- Creates no new law, funding, or ongoing legal obligation; it is a ceremonial statement of the House's position.

### Who it affects

This resolution directly names and honors Representative Rhonda Burnough. It has no legal effect on other Georgians, though it references the East Point/College Park Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated, and Clayton County's Purple Heart Cities initiative.

### Why it matters

The resolution has no practical legal effect on Georgians; it is a formal, symbolic honor. Its main real-world consequence is that the House Clerk will prepare and deliver a commemorative copy to Representative Burnough recognizing her service and sorority milestone.

### Key provisions

- The resolving clause formally recognizes and honors Representative Burnough on her 50th anniversary in Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated.
- A further resolution directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to make a copy available for distribution to her.
- The whereas clauses recount her legislative service since 2016, her education programs, her founded organizations, and her past national service awards, but carry no legal force.

## Status

- Status: Passed (2025-01-14)
- Last action: House Read and Adopted (2025-01-14)
- Sponsors: Viola Davis, Carolyn Hugley, Sheila Jones, Edna Jackson, Terry Cummings, Mekyah McQueen
- Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/69362

> The history, votes, and amendments (131 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr21.md?full=1