--- title: HR 811. Rev. Dr. Bennie R. Mitchell, Jr. Memorial Bridge; Chatham County; dedicate collection: bills id: 2025-2026/hr811 cite_as: HR 811, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.) canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr811 md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr811.md text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr811/text source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/71797 date: 2025-03-28 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/hr810.md next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr812.md index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md omitted: votes and history omitted_chars: 129 omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr811.md?full=1 bill_number: HR 811 session: 2025-2026 Regular Session session_slug: 2025-2026 chamber: House bill_type: resolution status_date: 2025-03-27 last_action: House Second Readers sponsors: - Carl Gilliard text_version: Introduced has_text: true legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/HR811/2025 upstream_id: 2016076 summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5 topic_tags: - bridge dedication - Chatham County - Savannah history - commemorative resolution --- # HR 811. Rev. Dr. Bennie R. Mitchell, Jr. Memorial Bridge; Chatham County; dedicate ## Text 25 LC 39 4787 House Resolution 811 By: Representative Gilliard of the 162nd A RESOLUTION Recognizing the life of Reverend Dr. Bennie R. Mitchell, Jr., and dedicating a bridge in his1 memory; and for other purposes.2 WHEREAS, Reverend Dr. Bennie R. Mitchell, Jr., demonstrated his commitment to teaching3 the Gospel, witnessing Christ through word and deed, and addres sing the physical,4 psychological, intellectual, and spiritual needs of others; and5 WHEREAS, Reverend Mitchell was born in Edgefield, South Carolin a, and earned a6 bachelor's degree from Benedict College and a master of divinit y degree from the7 Interdenominational Theological Center at Morehouse School of Religion; and8 WHEREAS, Reverend Mitchell served as pastor of Rockhill Baptist Church in Saluda, South9 Carolina, before being called by the Lord in 1974 to lead the c ongregation of Connor's10 Temple Baptist Church in Savannah, Georgia; and11 WHEREAS, his vision and direction helped Connor's Temple Baptist Church grow in size12 and influence, uplifting the community like the light of Bethlehem and serving as a spiritual13 leader and place for fellowship; and14 H. R. 811 - 1 - 25 LC 39 4787 WHEREAS, during his over five decades of leadership at Connor's Temple Baptist Church,15 Reverend Mitchell spearheaded the purchase and renovation of the historic McKelvy-Powell16 Building to serve as a community hub and as a positive symbol o f change and community17 activism; and18 WHEREAS, Reverend Mitchell's work was honored with numerous awards and accolades,19 including Omega Man of the Year, the Ivan Allen, Jr. Award for Excellence in Human20 Relations, a WSOK Image Award, and a Fannie Lou Hamer Award; and21 WHEREAS, is abundantly fitting and proper that this remarkable and distinguished Georgian22 be recognized appropriately by dedicating a bridge in his memory.23 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED AND ENACTED BY THE GENERAL24 ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA that the bridge on State Route 405 over Sta te Route 204 in25 Chatham County is dedicated as the Rev. Dr. Bennie R. Mitchell, Jr. Memorial Bridge.26 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Transportation is authorized and27 directed to erect and maintain appropriate signs dedicating the Rev. Dr. Bennie R. Mitchell,28 Jr. Memorial Bridge.29 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the House of Representatives is authorized30 and directed to make appropriate copies of this resolution avai lable for distribution to the31 family of Reverend Dr. Bennie R. Mitchell, Jr., and to the Department of Transportation.32 H. R. 811 - 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 House resolution would name the bridge on State Route 405 over State Route 204 in Chatham County the Rev. Dr. Bennie R. Mitchell, Jr. Memorial Bridge, honoring the late Savannah pastor. ### Plain-language summary This resolution honors Reverend Dr. Bennie R. Mitchell, Jr., a longtime pastor of Connor's Temple Baptist Church in Savannah, by naming a bridge after him. The resolution recounts his life and career, including his education, his decades of leadership at the church, his role in restoring the historic McKelvy-Powell Building, and various awards he received. The operative part of the resolution designates the bridge on State Route 405 over State Route 204 in Chatham County as the Rev. Dr. Bennie R. Mitchell, Jr. Memorial Bridge. It directs the Georgia Department of Transportation to put up and maintain signs marking the dedication, and it directs the Clerk of the House to send copies of the resolution to Reverend Mitchell's family and to the Department of Transportation. ### What it does - Names the bridge on State Route 405 over State Route 204 in Chatham County the Rev. Dr. Bennie R. Mitchell, Jr. Memorial Bridge. - Directs the Georgia Department of Transportation to erect and maintain signs marking the bridge's new name. - Directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to send copies of the resolution to Reverend Mitchell's family and to the Department of Transportation. ### Who it affects The resolution most directly affects the Georgia Department of Transportation, which must install and maintain signage, and the family of Reverend Dr. Bennie R. Mitchell, Jr. It also affects Chatham County residents and travelers who use the bridge on State Route 405 over State Route 204. ### Why it matters If adopted, the bridge would carry a permanent public marker honoring Reverend Mitchell's decades of ministry and community work in Savannah, requiring the Department of Transportation to install signage but otherwise having no effect on traffic, funding, or state law. ### Key provisions - The resolution's whereas clauses describe Reverend Mitchell's education, his pastorate at Connor's Temple Baptist Church, and his renovation of the McKelvy-Powell Building. - The operative section dedicates the bridge on State Route 405 over State Route 204 in Chatham County as the Rev. Dr. Bennie R. Mitchell, Jr. Memorial Bridge. - A further resolved clause directs the Department of Transportation to erect and maintain appropriate signs for the dedication. - A final clause directs the Clerk of the House to distribute copies of the resolution to Mitchell's family and the Department of Transportation. ## Status - Status: Introduced (2025-03-27) - Last action: House Second Readers (2025-03-28) - Sponsors: Carl Gilliard - Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/71797 > The history, votes, and amendments (129 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr811.md?full=1