--- title: SR 296. Petty Officer (Ret.) Diesha Blackmon; recognize collection: bills id: 2025-2026/sr296 cite_as: SR 296, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.) canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr296 md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr296.md text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr296/text source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/70957 date: 2025-02-28 status: passed corpus_version: bills-2026-09-12 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/sr295.md next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr297.md index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md omitted: votes and history omitted_chars: 94 omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr296.md?full=1 bill_number: SR 296 session: 2025-2026 Regular Session session_slug: 2025-2026 chamber: Senate bill_type: resolution status_date: 2025-02-28 last_action: Senate Read and Adopted sponsors: - Tonya Anderson - Gail Davenport - Kenya Wicks - Michael Rhett - Ed Harbison - Freddie Sims - Derek Mallow - Harold Jones - Elena Parent - Randal Mangham - Chuck Payne - Nikki Merritt - Jason Esteves - Sally Harrell text_version: Enrolled has_text: true legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/SR296/2025 upstream_id: 1987843 summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5 topic_tags: - military recognition - veterans - Georgia Senate resolution - U.S. Navy --- # SR 296. Petty Officer (Ret.) Diesha Blackmon; recognize ## Text Senate Resolution 296 By: Senators Anderson of the 43rd, Davenport of the 17th, Wicks of the 34th, Rhett of the 33rd, Harbison of the 15th and others A RESOLUTION Recognizing and commending Petty Officer (Ret.) Diesha Blackmon; and for other purposes. WHEREAS, Petty Officer (Ret.) Diesha Blackmon served as a guardian of this nation's freedom and liberty with the United States Navy, demonstrating exceptional dedication throughout her distinguished military career; and WHEREAS, born on July 16, 1985, to Billy Ranaldson and Shirley Andrews-McCray, she spent most of her early years in Florida before moving to Augusta, Georgia, where she graduated from George P. Butler High School in 2003; and WHEREAS, after attending Fort Valley State University to study biology and sports medicine, she enlisted in the United States Navy in 2009 as an Aviation Ordnanceman, completing boot camp in Chicago, Illinois; and WHEREAS, she continued her military training in Pensacola, Florida, before attending C-school in Virginia Beach, Virginia, and subsequently serving aboard the USS Carl Vinson; and WHEREAS, she completed her exemplary Navy career as a Petty Officer at NAS Lemoore, receiving an honorable discharge in September 2019; and WHEREAS, following her military service, she pursued further education in nursing and psychology, and she now serves as a Life Coach as well as contributes to the Atlanta Chapter of the National Association of Black Military Women; and WHEREAS, it is abundantly fitting and proper that the outstanding accomplishments of this remarkable and distinguished individual be appropriately recognized. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE that the members of this body recognize and commend Petty Officer (Ret.) Diesha Blackmon for her exceptional military service and continued contributions to her community as well as extend the most sincere best wishes for future health and happiness. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of the Senate is authorized and directed to make an appropriate copy of this resolution available for distribution to Petty Officer (Ret.) Diesha Blackmon. ## 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 Senate resolution recognizes and commends retired Navy Petty Officer Diesha Blackmon for her military service and her continued community contributions. ### Plain-language summary This is a ceremonial resolution passed by the Georgia Senate honoring Petty Officer (Ret.) Diesha Blackmon. It recounts her life story: her birth in 1985, her upbringing in Augusta, Georgia, her graduation from George P. Butler High School, her time at Fort Valley State University, and her 2009 enlistment in the United States Navy as an Aviation Ordnanceman. The resolution describes her military training and service, including her time aboard the USS Carl Vinson and her final post at NAS Lemoore before her honorable discharge in 2019. It also notes her post-service pursuits in nursing and psychology, her work as a life coach, and her involvement with the Atlanta Chapter of the National Association of Black Military Women. The resolution directs the Secretary of the Senate to provide her with a copy of the document. ### What it does - Formally recognizes and commends Diesha Blackmon for her service in the United States Navy and her community contributions. - Extends the Senate's best wishes to her for future health and happiness. - Directs the Secretary of the Senate to prepare and distribute a copy of the resolution to her. ### Who it affects The resolution directly names and honors Petty Officer (Ret.) Diesha Blackmon. It does not create any legal requirement, funding, or rule affecting the public, agencies, or other Georgians. ### Why it matters This resolution has no legal or regulatory effect on Georgians; it is a symbolic honor. Its practical significance is limited to public recognition of one individual's Navy service and community work, formally entered into the Senate's record. ### Key provisions - The whereas clauses detail Blackmon's biography, education, and Navy career, including her 2009 enlistment and 2019 honorable discharge. - The resolving clause formally commends her for her military service and community contributions. - The final clause directs the Secretary of the Senate to make a copy available to Blackmon. ## Status - Status: Passed (2025-02-28) - Last action: Senate Read and Adopted (2025-02-28) - Sponsors: Tonya Anderson, Gail Davenport, Kenya Wicks, Michael Rhett, Ed Harbison, Freddie Sims, Derek Mallow, Harold Jones, Elena Parent, Randal Mangham, Chuck Payne, Nikki Merritt, Jason Esteves, Sally Harrell - Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/70957 > The history, votes, and amendments (94 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr296.md?full=1