--- title: HR 888. Barker, Clarence "Ed"; condolences collection: bills id: 2025-2026/hr888 cite_as: HR 888, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.) canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr888 md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr888.md text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr888/text source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/71947 date: 2025-03-31 status: passed 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/hr887.md next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr889.md index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md omitted: votes and history omitted_chars: 131 omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr888.md?full=1 bill_number: HR 888 session: 2025-2026 Regular Session session_slug: 2025-2026 chamber: House bill_type: resolution status_date: 2025-03-31 last_action: House Read and Adopted sponsors: - Shaw Blackmon - Bethany Ballard - Robert Dickey - Anissa Jones - Mary Oliver - Noel Williams text_version: Introduced has_text: true legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/HR888/2025 upstream_id: 2017600 summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5 topic_tags: - commemorative resolution - Georgia legislature - Warner Robins - state senate history --- # HR 888. Barker, Clarence "Ed"; condolences ## Text 25 LC 112 3533 House Resolution 888 By: Representatives Blackmon of the 146th, Ballard of the 147th, Dickey of the 134th, Jones of the 143rd, Oliver of the 84th, and others A RESOLUTION Honoring the life and memory of Clarence "Ed" Barker; and for other purposes.1 WHEREAS, Clarence "Ed" Barker was born in Augusta, Georgia, and raised in Warner2 Robins, Georgia, where he demonstrated a strong work ethic from an early age, including3 operating a gas station while in high school, setting a foundation for his lifelong dedication4 to his community and family; and5 WHEREAS, Ed dedicated nearly two decades of his life to public service, representing the6 18th Senatorial District in middle Georgia for nine consecutive terms from 1973 to 1991,7 during which he worked tirelessly to improve the lives of his constituents and strengthen the8 State of Georgia; and9 WHEREAS, Ed's leadership extended beyond politics as he served as president of the10 Warner Robins Chamber of Commerce and the Air Force Association as well as continued11 to contribute to the growth and prosperity of the community even after his political career;12 and13 H. R. 888 - 1 - 25 LC 112 3533 WHEREAS, after retiring from state politics, Ed and his wife, Janet, moved to Highlands,14 North Carolina, where they built a successful furniture and decorator showroom for over 2015 years, demonstrating their entrepreneurial spirit; and16 WHEREAS, Ed's lifelong commitment to public service and his pas sion for community17 engagement were further evident through his active involvement in President Jimmy Carter's18 campaign and his leadership role in bringing Rev. Billy Graham' s series of services to19 Georgia, enriching the lives of many Georgians; and20 WHEREAS, Ed's legacy continues through his loving family, including his wife of over 7021 years, Janet, as well as his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, all of whom he22 deeply cared for and whose lives he touched with kindness, wisdom, and dedication.23 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that24 the members of this body join in honoring the life and memory of Clarence "Ed" Barker and25 express their deepest and most sincere regret at his passing.26 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the House of Representatives is authorized27 and directed to make an appropriate copy of this resolution available for distribution to the28 family of Clarence "Ed" Barker.29 H. R. 888 - 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 honors the life of former state senator Clarence "Ed" Barker of Warner Robins, who represented the 18th Senatorial District for nine terms, and offers condolences to his family. ### Plain-language summary This resolution is a ceremonial tribute from the Georgia House of Representatives marking the death of Clarence "Ed" Barker. It recounts his upbringing in Augusta and Warner Robins, his nine consecutive terms representing the 18th Senatorial District in middle Georgia from 1973 to 1991, his leadership roles with the Warner Robins Chamber of Commerce and the Air Force Association, and his later business career running a furniture and decorator showroom in Highlands, North Carolina with his wife Janet. The resolution formally states that the House joins in honoring his memory and expresses sincere regret at his passing. It also directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to prepare a copy of the resolution for distribution to Barker's family. The resolution has no regulatory effect and does not change any Georgia law. ### What it does - Formally expresses the Georgia House of Representatives' regret at the passing of former state senator Clarence "Ed" Barker. - Recounts Barker's biography, including his nine terms representing the 18th Senatorial District from 1973 to 1991. - Directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to prepare a copy of the resolution for delivery to Barker's family. - Creates no new law, funding, or regulatory requirement, serving solely as a ceremonial tribute. ### Who it affects This resolution directly affects the family of Clarence "Ed" Barker, who will receive a copy of it, and has symbolic relevance to residents of the 18th Senatorial District and the Warner Robins community he served and represented. ### Why it matters The resolution carries no legal or financial consequences for Georgians; its significance is purely commemorative, formally recording the legislature's recognition of a former senator's decades of public service and community involvement. ### Key provisions - The whereas clauses detail Barker's upbringing in Augusta and Warner Robins and his nine consecutive terms representing the 18th Senatorial District from 1973 to 1991. - The whereas clauses also describe his civic leadership roles and later business career in Highlands, North Carolina. - The resolving clause states the House's expression of regret and honors his memory. - A further resolving clause directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to distribute a copy of the resolution to Barker's family. ## Status - Status: Passed (2025-03-31) - Last action: House Read and Adopted (2025-03-31) - Sponsors: Shaw Blackmon, Bethany Ballard, Robert Dickey, Anissa Jones, Mary Oliver, Noel Williams - Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/71947 > The history, votes, and amendments (131 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr888.md?full=1