Georgia CommonsHR 228: Duke, Nellie Dunaway; condolences
Last action February 11, 2025 · House Read and Adopted
A Georgia House resolution honors the life of Nellie Dunaway Duke, a Carrollton women's rights advocate who died on January 28, 2025, and directs a copy be sent to her family.
The summaries below were written by an AI model (claude-sonnet-5) from the text of the resolution and are not part of it. Quote the text, not the summary. The stored text is the Introduced version, the latest LegiScan holds.
In plain language
This resolution is a formal statement from the Georgia House of Representatives marking the death of Nellie Dunaway Duke, who was born in Cave Springs in 1931 and spent much of her life in Carrollton. It recounts her early years playing basketball, her decades of advocacy for women's rights including work toward ratifying the Equal Rights Amendment in Georgia, and her long service as chair of the Georgia Commission on Women. The resolution also notes her community service roles, including work with a Methodist church, a local recreation department, and the American Cancer Society, and lists her surviving family members. It does not change any law. It simply expresses the House's condolences and directs the Clerk of the House to send a copy of the resolution to her family.
What the bill does
- Formally expresses the House of Representatives' condolences on the death of Nellie Dunaway Duke.
- Recites biographical details about her life, family, and decades of civic and advocacy work in Georgia.
- Directs the Clerk of the House to prepare and send a copy of the resolution to her family.
- Creates no new law, funding, or ongoing government obligation; it is a one-time commemorative statement.
Who it affects
This resolution directly concerns the family of Nellie Dunaway Duke, who will receive a copy, and reflects recognition by the Georgia House of Representatives. It does not impose duties or effects on the general public, agencies, or businesses.
Why it matters
The resolution has no legal or regulatory effect on Georgians generally. Its practical significance is symbolic: it places an official record of appreciation for Duke's life and advocacy work into the Georgia House's records and provides her family a formal memorial document.
Key provisions
- The resolution's whereas clauses recount Duke's birth, family, education, athletic career, and 66-year marriage to Henry Duke.
- It highlights her role in advocating for the Equal Rights Amendment in Georgia and her tenure as chair of the Georgia Commission on Women.
- It notes her community service roles with a Methodist church, a recreation department, and the American Cancer Society.
- The resolving clause expresses the House's regret at her passing and honors her memory.
- A further resolving clause directs the Clerk of the House to distribute a copy of the resolution to her family.
From the bill
“Nellie Dunaway Duke was a tireless advocate and champion for women's rights who played a pivotal role in the efforts to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment in Georgia”
“the members of this body join in honoring the life and memory of Nellie Dunaway Duke and express their deepest and most sincere regret at her passing”
Status timeline
- House Read and Adopted (House)
- House First Readers (House)
- House Hopper (House)
Sponsors
- Carolyn Hugley (D, HD-141)
- Karen Bennett (D, HD-094)
- Debra Bazemore (D, HD-069)
- Tanya Miller (D, HD-062)
- Park Cannon (D, HD-058)
- Debbie Buckner (D, HD-137)
Topics
- condolence resolution
- women's rights history
- Georgia Commission on Women
- Carrollton Georgia