---
title: HR 74. Lowery, Dr. Evelyn Gibson; condolences
collection: bills
id: 2025-2026/hr74
cite_as: HR 74, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr74
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr74.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr74/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/69607
date: 2025-01-28
status: passed
corpus_version: bills-2026-09-13
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/hr73.md
next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr75.md
index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md
omitted: votes and history
omitted_chars: 131
omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr74.md?full=1
bill_number: HR 74
session: 2025-2026 Regular Session
session_slug: 2025-2026
chamber: House
bill_type: resolution
status_date: 2025-01-28
last_action: House Read and Adopted
sponsors:
  - Dewey McClain
  - Carolyn Hugley
  - Park Cannon
  - Debra Bazemore
  - Al Williams
  - Mekyah McQueen
text_version: Introduced
has_text: true
legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/HR74/2025
upstream_id: 1945180
summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5
topic_tags:
  - civil rights history
  - commemorative resolution
  - Georgia House of Representatives
  - women's history
---

# HR 74. Lowery, Dr. Evelyn Gibson; condolences

## Text

House Resolution 74
By: Representatives McClain of the 109th, Hugley of the 141st, Cannon of the 58th, Bazemore
of the 69th, Williams of the 168th, and others
A RESOLUTION
Honoring the life and memory of Dr. Evelyn Gibson Lowery; and for other purposes.
WHEREAS, Dr. Evelyn Gibson Lowery was the quintessential civil rights wife, woman, and
warrior, remembered as a wise woman of substance who helped shape the Movement
alongside her lifelong husband and Civil Rights Leader, Rev. Dr. Joseph E. Lowery; and
WHEREAS, understanding the often-overlooked contributions of women to the Civil Rights
Movement and passionately dedicating her life to correcting this lack of recognition, Dr.
Evelyn Gibson Lowery founded SCLC/W.O.M.E.N. Inc. (Women's Organizational
Movement for Equality Now Inc.) in 1979 to create inter-generational programs addressing
health disparities, human rights, social action, and economic self-sufficiency while fostering
leadership development impacting women, children, and families; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Lowery spearheaded countless groundbreaking initiatives, including the
establishment of the first National Conference on the Survival of the Black Family in 1980,
followed by a national youth conference the next year, and the creation of the Drum Major
for Justice Awards Banquet on April 4, 1980, to honor the contributions of others in the
Movement; and
WHEREAS, recognizing the disparities in health education and outcomes affecting African
Americans, Dr. Lowery championed AIDS/HIV education through conferences, sermons,
litanies, and other religious resources, ensuring the African American community was
informed and empowered to address these challenges; and
WHEREAS, in 1987, Dr. Evelyn Gibson Lowery founded the "Original" Evelyn G. Lowery
Civil Rights Heritage Tour, a two-day motor coach journey throughout Alabama, which
erected 13 monuments along the civil rights trail to honor the legacy of key leaders and
ensure their contributions were never forgotten; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Lowery expanded the scope of SCLC/W.O.M.E.N. Inc. with initiatives such
as the Women's Empowerment Training Center for GED and computer training in 1988, the
Bridging the Gap Girls to Women mentoring program in 1995, and other programs
addressing the needs of the disenfranchised, regardless of ethnicity, religion, gender, or
sexual orientation; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Evelyn Gibson Lowery radiated grace, quiet strength, humor, and
determination as she directed a team of volunteers, remaining deeply involved in every detail
of SCLC/W.O.M.E.N. Inc.'s actions and inspiring others with her commitment to justice,
equity, and service; and
WHEREAS, her efforts and contributions as an unsung hero of the Civil Rights Movement
continue to motivate and uplift the Board of Directors, staff, members, and supporters of
SCLC/W.O.M.E.N. Inc. as they strive to carry forward her vision of empowerment and
equality; and
WHEREAS, on November 19, 1994, the SCLC/W.O.M.E.N. Inc. Training Center was
formally dedicated as a beacon of hope and a vital resource for education, empowerment, and
leadership development, embodying the values and vision of Dr. Evelyn Gibson Lowery; and
WHEREAS, it is abundantly fitting and proper to honor the extraordinary life and
contributions of Dr. Evelyn Gibson Lowery, ensuring that her spirit of service and
commitment to justice are celebrated for generations to come.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that
the members of this body honor the life and memory of Dr. Evelyn Gibson Lowery and
express the most sincere gratitude for her unparalleled contributions to civil rights and her
enduring dedication to building stronger, more equitable communities.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the House of Representatives is authorized
and directed to make appropriate copies of this resolution available for distribution to the
public and the press.

## 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 and memory of Dr. Evelyn Gibson Lowery, a civil rights leader and founder of SCLC/W.O.M.E.N. Inc., and directs copies to be shared with the public and press.

### Plain-language summary

This resolution from the Georgia House of Representatives is a tribute rather than a change to state law. It recounts the life and work of Dr. Evelyn Gibson Lowery, who founded SCLC/W.O.M.E.N. Inc. (Women's Organizational Movement for Equality Now Inc.) in 1979 and led decades of civil rights programming focused on health disparities, human rights, and economic self-sufficiency for women, children, and families.
The resolution lists her achievements, including creating the Drum Major for Justice Awards Banquet, founding the Evelyn G. Lowery Civil Rights Heritage Tour in Alabama, and launching AIDS/HIV education efforts and mentoring programs. The House formally resolves to honor her memory and expresses gratitude for her contributions, and directs the Clerk of the House to make copies of the resolution available to the public and press.

### What it does

- Formally honors the life and memory of Dr. Evelyn Gibson Lowery on behalf of the Georgia House of Representatives.
- Expresses the House's gratitude for her contributions to civil rights and community building.
- Directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to prepare and distribute copies of the resolution to the public and press.
- Creates no new law, funding, or regulatory requirement, since it is a commemorative resolution rather than a bill amending Georgia statutes.

### Who it affects

This resolution primarily affects Dr. Evelyn Gibson Lowery's family, the organization she founded (SCLC/W.O.M.E.N. Inc.), and its board, staff, and supporters, who are named as recipients of the House's tribute. It has no regulatory effect on the general public.

### Why it matters

While the resolution does not change any law or policy, it represents an official statement by the Georgia House of Representatives recognizing a Georgian's civil rights legacy, which becomes part of the public legislative record and is shared with the press.

### Key provisions

- The resolution recounts Dr. Lowery's founding of SCLC/W.O.M.E.N. Inc. in 1979 and its programs on health, human rights, and economic self-sufficiency.
- It notes her creation of the Drum Major for Justice Awards Banquet and the Evelyn G. Lowery Civil Rights Heritage Tour in Alabama in 1987.
- The resolving clause formally honors her life and expresses the House's gratitude for her civil rights contributions.
- A further resolving clause directs the Clerk of the House to distribute copies of the resolution to the public and press.

## Status

- Status: Passed (2025-01-28)
- Last action: House Read and Adopted (2025-01-28)
- Sponsors: Dewey McClain, Carolyn Hugley, Park Cannon, Debra Bazemore, Al Williams, Mekyah McQueen
- Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/69607

> The history, votes, and amendments (131 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr74.md?full=1