---
title: HR 549. Bevington, Paula Lawton; condolences
collection: bills
id: 2025-2026/hr549
cite_as: HR 549, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr549
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr549.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr549/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/71242
date: 2025-03-06
status: passed
corpus_version: bills-2026-09-12
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/hr548.md
next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr550.md
index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md
omitted: votes and history
omitted_chars: 131
omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr549.md?full=1
bill_number: HR 549
session: 2025-2026 Regular Session
session_slug: 2025-2026
chamber: House
bill_type: resolution
status_date: 2025-03-06
last_action: House Read and Adopted
sponsors:
  - Scott Holcomb
  - Mary Oliver
  - Tanya Miller
  - Anne Westbrook
  - Shea Roberts
  - Dar'shun Kendrick
text_version: Introduced
has_text: true
legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/HR549/2025
upstream_id: 1994257
summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5
topic_tags:
  - condolence resolution
  - Georgia House of Representatives
  - Atlanta civic leaders
  - legal history
---

# HR 549. Bevington, Paula Lawton; condolences

## Text

House Resolution 549
By: Representatives Holcomb of the 101st, Oliver of the 84th, Miller of the 62nd, Westbrook
of the 163rd, Roberts of the 52nd, and others
A RESOLUTION
Honoring the life and memory of Paula Lawton Bevington; and for other purposes.
WHEREAS, the State of Georgia mourns the loss of one of its most distinguished citizens
with the passing of Paula Lawton Bevington on August 4, 2024; and
WHEREAS, Paula Lawton Bevington was born on September 25, 1937, in Cleveland, Ohio,
a beloved daughter of G. Albert Lawton and Mary Patricia Walsh Lawton; and
WHEREAS, she graduated magna cum laude from St. Mary's College in Notre Dame,
Indiana, at the age of 20 and earned her Juris Doctor from Yale Law School in 1961,
followed by additional studies at Middlebury College and the National Autonomous
University of Mexico; and
WHEREAS, following her graduation, Paula Lawton Bevington became the first woman
associate hired by Sutherland Asbill & Brennan, LLP, in Atlanta during a time when many
law firms did not hire women; and
WHEREAS, she served the Peace Corps in Washington, D.C., in 1963; conducted
international law research on a Fulbright scholarship at Central University of Venezuela,
Caracas; and traveled throughout South America and around the world; and
WHEREAS, Paula Lawton Bevington joined her husband, E. Milton, at Servidyne
Incorporated from 1980 to 2002, contributing to the company's pioneering efforts in energy
conservation, and later served as Vice President of Development for SciTrek; and
WHEREAS, she was as an active and enthusiastic alumna and volunteer for Lauralton Hall,
St. Mary's, and Yale, and she held leadership roles in numerous civic organizations,
including the Junior League of Atlanta, The Carter Center, and the Atlanta Legal Aid
Society; and
WHEREAS, she further chaired the Georgia Human Relations Commission, served as the
first woman president of the Rotary Club of Atlanta, and led the Justice Center of Atlanta;
and
WHEREAS, she was blessed with eight remarkable children, Milton Jr., Rickey, Peter,
George, Christian, Charles, Justin, and Mary; 12 wonderful grandchildren; and three
magnificent great-grandchildren; and
WHEREAS, a compassionate and generous woman, Paula Lawton Bevington will long be
remembered for her belief in the collective power of family, friendships, and community to
promote and positively effect social transformation. This quality was at the center of her
leadership, from her teenage years throughout her entire life.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that
the members of this body join in honoring the life and memory of Paula Lawton Bevington
and express their deepest and most sincere regret at her passing.
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 Paula Lawton Bevington.

## 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 Paula Lawton Bevington, an Atlanta lawyer and civic leader, following her death, and expresses the House's condolences to her family.

### Plain-language summary

This resolution is a formal statement from the Georgia House of Representatives marking the death of Paula Lawton Bevington on August 4, 2024. It recounts her life story: her birth in Cleveland, Ohio, her education at St. Mary's College and Yale Law School, her work as the first woman associate hired by an Atlanta law firm, her Peace Corps and Fulbright experience, her career at Servidyne and SciTrek, and her civic leadership roles including chairing the Georgia Human Relations Commission and serving as the first woman president of the Rotary Club of Atlanta.
The resolution does not change any Georgia law. It simply resolves that House members join in honoring her memory and directs the Clerk of the House to prepare a copy of the resolution for distribution to her family.

### What it does

- Formally states that the House of Representatives honors the life and memory of Paula Lawton Bevington and expresses regret at her passing.
- Directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to prepare a copy of the resolution for delivery to her family.
- Recites biographical details about her education, career, and civic leadership as the basis for the tribute.
- Does not create, amend, or repeal any Georgia statute or appropriate any state funding.

### Who it affects

This resolution directly affects the family of Paula Lawton Bevington, who will receive an official copy, and involves the Clerk of the House of Representatives, who is tasked with preparing it. It has no broader regulatory effect on other Georgians.

### Why it matters

For the family and community of Paula Lawton Bevington, this resolution provides a formal, public record of her life and the legislature's recognition of her contributions. It carries symbolic rather than legal weight and does not affect any other Georgians' rights or obligations.

### Key provisions

- The whereas clauses detail her birth, education at St. Mary's College and Yale Law School, and early legal career as the first woman associate at an Atlanta law firm.
- The whereas clauses describe her Peace Corps service, Fulbright research in Venezuela, and later career at Servidyne and SciTrek.
- The whereas clauses list her civic leadership, including chairing the Georgia Human Relations Commission and serving as the first woman president of the Rotary Club of Atlanta.
- The resolved clause states the House's intent to honor her memory and express condolences.
- A further resolved clause directs the Clerk of the House to prepare a copy of the resolution for her family.

## Status

- Status: Passed (2025-03-06)
- Last action: House Read and Adopted (2025-03-06)
- Sponsors: Scott Holcomb, Mary Oliver, Tanya Miller, Anne Westbrook, Shea Roberts, Dar'shun Kendrick
- Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/71242

> The history, votes, and amendments (131 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr549.md?full=1