Georgia CommonsHouse · Passed · 2025-2026 Regular Session
HR 735: Church, Reverend Clarice Marijetta Wyatt Bell; condolences
Last action March 25, 2025 · House Read and Adopted
A Georgia House resolution honors the life of Reverend Clarice Marijetta Wyatt Bell Church, a civil rights advocate, librarian, and minister, and offers condolences to her family.
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 is a House resolution, a formal statement from the Georgia House of Representatives rather than a change to state law. It recounts the life of Reverend Clarice Marijetta Wyatt Bell Church, born in 1929, who earned degrees from Spelman College and Atlanta University, worked as a librarian and media specialist, supported civil rights efforts including the desegregation of Grady Memorial Hospital, founded a real estate business, and later became an ordained minister who housed people experiencing homelessness. The resolution formally honors her life and legacy and extends sympathy to her family. It directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to send an official copy of the resolution to her family. It does not create, amend, or repeal any Georgia law.
What the bill does
- Formally honors the life and legacy of Reverend Clarice Marijetta Wyatt Bell Church on behalf of the Georgia House of Representatives.
- Extends official condolences from the House to her family and loved ones.
- Directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to send a copy of the resolution to her family.
- Makes no change to any Georgia statute; it is a ceremonial statement rather than a law.
Who it affects
The resolution directly names the family of Reverend Clarice Marijetta Wyatt Bell Church, including her children, grandchildren, and Georgia State Representative Eric Wyatt Bell II. It has no broader legal effect on other Georgians.
Why it matters
The resolution carries no legal or regulatory weight and changes no law, but it gives the Georgia House of Representatives a formal, permanent public record recognizing a Georgian's civil rights work, career, and ministry, and provides her family an official expression of sympathy.
Key provisions
- The resolving clause has the House of Representatives honor Reverend Church's life and legacy and extend sympathy to her family.
- A further resolved clause directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to transmit an official copy of the resolution to her family.
From the bill
“Reverend Church was a dedicated civil rights advocate, supporting her husband, Dr. Roy C. Bell, in his work with the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, and was instrumental in the desegregation of Grady Memorial Hospital”
“the members of this body honor the extraordinary life and legacy of Reverend Clarice Marijetta Wyatt Bell Church, extend their deepest sympathies to her family, and recognize the lasting impact of her contributions.”
Status timeline
- House Read and Adopted (House)
- House First Readers (House)
- House Hopper (House)
Sponsors
- Eric Bell (D, HD-75)
- Mekyah McQueen (D, HD-61)
- Bryce Berry (D, HD-56)
- Phil Olaleye (D, HD-59)
- Robert Flournoy (D, HD-74)
- El-Mahdi Holly (D, HD-116)
Topics
- condolence resolution
- civil rights history
- Georgia House of Representatives
- Grady Memorial Hospital