--- title: HR 277. Taylor, Cornelius Lashon; condolences collection: bills id: 2025-2026/hr277 cite_as: HR 277, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.) canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr277 md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr277.md text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr277/text source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/70446 date: 2025-02-18 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/hr276.md next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr278.md index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md omitted: votes and history omitted_chars: 131 omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr277.md?full=1 bill_number: HR 277 session: 2025-2026 Regular Session session_slug: 2025-2026 chamber: House bill_type: resolution status_date: 2025-02-18 last_action: House Read and Adopted sponsors: - Imani Barnes - Inga Willis - Omari Crawford - Park Cannon - Betsy Holland - Phil Olaleye text_version: Introduced has_text: true legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/HR277/2025 upstream_id: 1974266 summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5 topic_tags: - memorial resolution - Georgia House of Representatives - Atlanta community - homelessness --- # HR 277. Taylor, Cornelius Lashon; condolences ## Text House Resolution 277 By: Representatives Barnes of the 86th, Willis of the 55th, Crawford of the 89th, Cannon of the 58th, Holland of the 54th, and others A RESOLUTION Honoring the life and memory of Cornelius Lashon Taylor; and for other purposes. WHEREAS, the State of Georgia mourns the loss of one of its most distinguished citizens with the passing of Cornelius Lashon Taylor on January 16, 2025; and WHEREAS, Cornelius Lashon Taylor was born on October 8, 1978, in Walton County, Georgia, and for over a decade, he was a cherished presence in the Old Fourth Ward neighborhoods, particularly on Old Wheat Street; and WHEREAS, he demonstrated a lifelong passion for the arts, expressing himself through music, poetry, and visual art, and as a young child, he had a special love for the flute, often playing melodies that resonated with his soul; and WHEREAS, he was an avid reader who immersed himself in science fiction, murder mysteries, and rap lyrics, finding inspiration in literature and the spoken word; and WHEREAS, a man of deep and abiding faith, Cornelius Lashon Taylor participated in community events and attended services at Ebenezer Baptist Church; and WHEREAS, to those who knew him, he was not simply unhoused; he was a pillar of strength, a friend, and a source of inspiration; 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, Cornelius Lashon Taylor 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 Cornelius Lashon Taylor 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 appropriate copies of this resolution available for distribution to the family of Cornelius Lashon Taylor. ## 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 Cornelius Lashon Taylor, an Atlanta community member who died in January 2025, and directs copies to be shared with his family. ### Plain-language summary This resolution from the Georgia House of Representatives is a memorial tribute rather than a change to state law. It recognizes the life of Cornelius Lashon Taylor, who was born in Walton County, Georgia in 1978 and lived for over a decade in the Old Fourth Ward area of Atlanta, particularly on Old Wheat Street. The text describes his passion for music, poetry, art, reading, and his faith, and notes he attended Ebenezer Baptist Church. The resolution formally states that the House joins in honoring his memory and expresses regret at his passing. It also directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to prepare copies of the resolution for his family. The resolution does not create, amend, or repeal any Georgia statute. ### What it does - Formally expresses the Georgia House of Representatives' regret over the death of Cornelius Lashon Taylor on January 16, 2025. - Recites biographical details about Taylor's life, including his background, interests, and community ties in Atlanta's Old Fourth Ward. - Directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to prepare copies of the resolution for distribution to Taylor's family. - Does not change any Georgia law, create funding, or impose any requirement beyond the symbolic tribute. ### Who it affects This resolution directly names Cornelius Lashon Taylor and his family, who will receive copies of it. It also involves the Clerk of the House of Representatives, who is directed to prepare those copies. ### Why it matters The resolution has no legal or regulatory effect on Georgians generally. Its practical impact is symbolic: it creates an official state record honoring Taylor's life and provides his family with a formal document from the Georgia House of Representatives. ### Key provisions - The resolution's preamble (the 'WHEREAS' clauses) recounts Taylor's birth, life in Atlanta's Old Fourth Ward, interests in the arts and literature, and his faith community. - The first resolving clause has the House join in honoring Taylor's memory and expressing regret at his passing. - The second resolving clause directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to make copies of the resolution available to Taylor's family. ## Status - Status: Passed (2025-02-18) - Last action: House Read and Adopted (2025-02-18) - Sponsors: Imani Barnes, Inga Willis, Omari Crawford, Park Cannon, Betsy Holland, Phil Olaleye - Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/70446 > The history, votes, and amendments (131 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr277.md?full=1