HR 695: Kelley, Councilwoman Dr. Melody; recipient of the 2025 Georgia Single Parent Fifth "Legacy Builders" Award; commend

This resolution is a formal statement from the Georgia House of Representatives honoring Councilwoman Dr. Melody Kelley. It recounts her background, including becoming the first African American woman doctoral candidate in the chemistry department at the University of Alabama, earning her doctorate in organic chemistry, and later becoming a tenured associate professor at Georgia State University's Perimeter College. The resolution also notes her civic work in Sandy Springs, including serving on school PTO boards, leading Georgia State's Rising Panthers Program for local K-12 students, becoming the first African American person elected to the Sandy Springs City Council in 2021, and organizing the city's first Juneteenth Celebration. The House formally recognizes and commends her for winning the award and directs the Clerk of the House to provide her a copy of the resolution.

• Formally recognizes and commends Councilwoman Dr. Melody Kelley for receiving the 2025 Georgia Single Parent Fifth "Legacy Builders" Award.
• Directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to prepare and distribute a copy of the resolution to Dr. Kelley.
• Extends the House's best wishes for her continued success but creates no new law, funding, or legal requirement.

The resolution directly names and honors Councilwoman Dr. Melody Kelley of Sandy Springs. It has no regulatory or legal effect on other Georgians, though it reflects on institutions she is associated with, including Georgia State University and the Sandy Springs City Council.

This is a ceremonial honor with no binding legal or financial effect on Georgians. Its significance is symbolic, publicly recognizing Dr. Kelley's academic and civic accomplishments through an official act of the Georgia House of Representatives.

• The resolved clause states the House recognizes and commends Dr. Kelley for winning the 2025 Georgia Single Parent Fifth "Legacy Builders" Award.
• A further resolved clause directs the Clerk of the House to make a copy of the resolution available for distribution to Dr. Kelley.
• The whereas clauses detail her academic career, civic service on the Sandy Springs City Council, and community initiatives such as the Rising Panthers Program and Juneteenth Celebration.

1. 2025-03-21House Read and Adopted (House)
2. 2025-03-21House First Readers (House)
3. 2025-03-21House Hopper (House)

• Shea Roberts (D, HD-52)Primary sponsor
• Betsy Holland (D, HD-54)
• Long Tran (D, HD-80)
• Deborah Silcox (R, HD-53)
• Karen Lupton (D, HD-83)

• ceremonial resolution
• Sandy Springs
• community recognition
• Georgia State University