Georgia CommonsHouse · Passed · 2025-2026 Regular Session
HR 481: Wessinger, Dr. William Nettles; condolences
Last action March 4, 2025 · House Read and Adopted
A Georgia House resolution honors the life of Dr. William Nettles Wessinger, a Savannah orthopedic surgeon and hospital administrator who died on February 20, 2025.
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 the General Assembly's website lists.
In plain language
This resolution is a formal statement from the Georgia House of Representatives recognizing the life of Dr. William Nettles Wessinger, who passed away on February 20, 2025. It recounts his biography: his birth in Columbia, South Carolina, his service as an Army Flight Surgeon, his medical training at Duke University, and his decades-long orthopedic surgery career in Savannah, Georgia, followed by hospital administration roles at Memorial Health. The resolution does not change any Georgia law. It simply expresses the House's condolences and directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to send a copy of the resolution to Dr. Wessinger's family.
What the bill does
- Formally expresses the House of Representatives' regret over the death of Dr. William Nettles Wessinger.
- Recounts his military service, medical career in Savannah, and hospital administration roles as part of the official record.
- Directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to prepare and send a copy of the resolution to his family.
Who it affects
This resolution directly affects Dr. Wessinger's family, including his wife Karen, his children Lucy and William, and his grandchildren Noel and Freya, who will receive an official copy. It also reflects on colleagues and patients connected to his medical career in Savannah.
Why it matters
While it carries no legal or financial effect, the resolution provides an official, permanent recognition by the Georgia House of Representatives of Dr. Wessinger's military service, medical career, and community contributions, offered as a public gesture of condolence to his family.
Key provisions
- The resolution's whereas clauses detail Dr. Wessinger's birth, Army service as a Flight Surgeon, medical training at Duke University, and orthopedic surgery career in Savannah, Georgia.
- The first resolving clause has the House join in honoring his life and expressing regret at his passing.
- The second resolving clause directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to distribute a copy of the resolution to his family.
From the bill
“the members of this body join in honoring the life and memory of Dr. William Nettles Wessinger and express their deepest and most sincere regret at his passing”
Status timeline
- House Read and Adopted (House)
- House First Readers (House)
- House Hopper (House)
Sponsors
- Ron Stephens (R, HD-164)
- Carl Gilliard (D, HD-162)
- Edna Jackson (D, HD-165)
- Jesse Petrea (R, HD-166)
- Bill Hitchens (R, HD-161)
Topics
- condolence resolution
- Georgia House of Representatives
- Savannah medical community