--- title: HR 658. David Allen Donley Memorial Parkway; Cherokee County; dedicate collection: bills id: 2025-2026/hr658 cite_as: HR 658, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.) canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr658 md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr658.md text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr658/text source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/71501 date: 2025-03-25 status: introduced corpus_version: bills-2026-08-28 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/hr657.md next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr659.md index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md omitted: votes and history omitted_chars: 129 omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr658.md?full=1 bill_number: HR 658 session: 2025-2026 Regular Session session_slug: 2025-2026 chamber: House bill_type: resolution status_date: 2025-03-20 last_action: House Second Readers sponsors: - Brad Thomas - Jordan Ridley - Don Parsons - Mitchell Scoggins - John Carson text_version: Introduced has_text: true legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/HR658/2025 upstream_id: 2012201 summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5 topic_tags: - road naming - Cherokee County - memorial resolution - Georgia Department of Transportation --- # HR 658. David Allen Donley Memorial Parkway; Cherokee County; dedicate ## Text 25 LC 39 4735 House Resolution 658 By: Representatives Thomas of the 21st, Ridley of the 22nd, Parsons of the 44th, Scoggins of the 14th, and Carson of the 46th A RESOLUTION Honoring the life of Mr. David Allen Donley and dedicating a road in his memory; and for1 other purposes.2 WHEREAS, Mr. David Allen Donley devoted his life to bringing music to the community3 of Holly Springs and Hickory Flat, leaving behind a legacy of h onesty, integrity, and4 kindness; and5 WHEREAS, Mr. Donley opened his store, Donley's Music, in 1996 a t the corner of Bells6 Ferry Road and Highway 92, before moving the store to Holly Springs in 2006, and finally7 to the store's current location on Hickory Flat Highway in 2008; and8 WHEREAS, his store became a destination for musicians of all skill levels, providing a sense9 of community to those who visited through bluegrass jams, music lessons, and other10 community oriented programs; and11 WHEREAS, Mr. Donley's faithfulness, generosity, and commitment to his hundreds of12 students, particularly those from disadvantaged and low-income backgrounds, often led him13 to provide guitars to those in need, sponsor guitar clubs, and complete lessons or instrument14 repairs for those who could not pay, which he saw as an investment in students' lives; and15 H. R. 658 - 1 - 25 LC 39 4735 WHEREAS, Mr. Donley's spirit and love for music has inspired many members of the Holly16 Springs and Hickory Flat communities to become better musicians and better people,17 including Bryce Leatherwood, the 2022 winner of The Voice, who cited Mr. Donley as one18 of his greatest inspirations; and19 WHEREAS, beyond his love for music, Mr. Donley is remembered as an avid fisherman20 who found enjoyment in sharing his hobby with others; and21 WHEREAS, Mr. Donley will be forever remembered as a loving husb and, father, and22 beloved citizen of Cherokee County and it is abundantly fitting and proper that this23 remarkable and distinguished Georgian be recognized appropriately by dedicating a road in24 his memory.25 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED AND ENACTED BY THE GENERAL26 ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA that the portion of State Route 140 from Darnell Road to East27 Cherokee Drive in Cherokee County is dedicated as the David All en Donley Memorial28 Parkway.29 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Transportation is authorized and30 directed to erect and maintain appropriate signs dedicating the David Allen Donley Memorial31 Parkway.32 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the House of Representatives is authorized33 and directed to make appropriate copies of this resolution avai lable for distribution to the34 family of Mr. David Allen Donley and to the Department of Transportation.35 H. R. 658 - 2 - ## 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 would honor the late David Allen Donley, a Cherokee County music teacher and shop owner, by naming a stretch of State Route 140 after him. ### Plain-language summary This resolution from the Georgia House of Representatives honors the life of David Allen Donley, who ran Donley's Music in the Holly Springs and Hickory Flat area and mentored hundreds of students, including musician Bryce Leatherwood. The bill recounts his generosity toward disadvantaged students and his role in the local music community. The operative part of the resolution designates the portion of State Route 140 between Darnell Road and East Cherokee Drive in Cherokee County as the David Allen Donley Memorial Parkway. It directs the Georgia Department of Transportation to put up and maintain signs marking the new name, and instructs the Clerk of the House to send copies of the resolution to Donley's family and to the Department of Transportation. ### What it does - Names the stretch of State Route 140 between Darnell Road and East Cherokee Drive in Cherokee County as the David Allen Donley Memorial Parkway. - Directs the Georgia Department of Transportation to erect and maintain signs marking the new road designation. - Directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to distribute copies of the resolution to Donley's family and to the Department of Transportation. ### Who it affects The resolution mainly affects the Georgia Department of Transportation, which must install and maintain new signage, and the family and community of David Allen Donley in Cherokee County, particularly residents and drivers along the affected stretch of State Route 140. ### Why it matters While largely symbolic, the resolution results in a real change to a public road's name and signage in Cherokee County, giving lasting public recognition to a local figure and requiring state transportation officials to act on the designation. ### Key provisions - The resolution's whereas clauses describe Donley's life, his music store, and his mentorship of students, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds. - The first resolved clause dedicates the portion of State Route 140 from Darnell Road to East Cherokee Drive as the David Allen Donley Memorial Parkway. - The second resolved clause authorizes and directs the Department of Transportation to erect and maintain appropriate signs for the dedication. - The third resolved clause directs the Clerk of the House to distribute copies of the resolution to Donley's family and the Department of Transportation. ## Status - Status: Introduced (2025-03-20) - Last action: House Second Readers (2025-03-25) - Sponsors: Brad Thomas, Jordan Ridley, Don Parsons, Mitchell Scoggins, John Carson - Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/71501 > The history, votes, and amendments (129 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr658.md?full=1