--- title: SR 354. Smith, Ms. Catherine Ann; condolences collection: bills id: 2025-2026/sr354 cite_as: SR 354, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.) canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr354 md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr354.md text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr354/text source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/71192 date: 2025-03-10 status: introduced 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/sr353.md next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr355.md index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md omitted: votes and history omitted_chars: 95 omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr354.md?full=1 bill_number: SR 354 session: 2025-2026 Regular Session session_slug: 2025-2026 chamber: Senate bill_type: resolution status_date: 2025-03-06 last_action: Senate Read and Referred sponsors: - Jason Esteves - Nan Orrock - Josh McLaurin - Elena Parent - Kim Jackson - Gail Davenport - Kenya Wicks - Michael Rhett - Nabilah Islam Parkes text_version: Enrolled has_text: true legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/SR354/2025 upstream_id: 1994191 summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5 topic_tags: - Georgia Senate resolution - memorial resolution - Catherine Ann Smith - Democratic Party organizing --- # SR 354. Smith, Ms. Catherine Ann; condolences ## Text Senate Resolution 354 By: Senators Esteves of the 35th, Orrock of the 36th, McLaurin of the 14th, Parent of the 44th, Jackson of the 41st and others A RESOLUTION Honoring the life and memory of Ms. Catherine Ann Smith; and for other purposes. WHEREAS, the State of Georgia mourns the loss of one of its most distinguished citizens with the passing of Ms. Catherine Ann Smith on February 25, 2025; and WHEREAS, Ms. Catherine Ann Smith was born on May 29, 1957, in Columbus, Ohio, a beloved daughter of Dr. Warren L. Smith and Ann Schwartz Smith; and WHEREAS, she learned the art of political organizing from her mother, who turned their basement into a call center for the Democratic Party; and WHEREAS, Ms. Catherine Ann Smith shared her knowledge with thousands of budding activists and organizers in both Michigan and Georgia, dedicating countless hours, energy, and resources to improving her community through the Democratic Party and progressive causes; and WHEREAS, she was a person of intelligence, passion, caring spirit, generosity, and was full of laughter and wit; by the example she made of her life, she made the world a better place in which to live; and WHEREAS, Ms. Catherine Ann Smith will long be remembered for her love of her chosen family and friends, and will be missed by all who had the great fortune of knowing her; and WHEREAS, Ms. Catherine Ann Smith embodied the spirit of service and was always willing to find meaning in something greater than herself, making it is abundantly fitting and proper that this remarkable and distinguished American is recognized upon a life well lived. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE that the members of this body join in honoring the life and memory of Ms. Catherine Ann Smith and express their deepest and most sincere regret at her passing. 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 the family of Ms. Catherine Ann Smith. ## 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 Senate resolution honors the life of Ms. Catherine Ann Smith, a longtime Democratic Party organizer in Michigan and Georgia who died on February 25, 2025. ### Plain-language summary This is a memorial resolution from the Georgia Senate, a formal statement rather than a change to state law. It recognizes Ms. Catherine Ann Smith, who was born in Columbus, Ohio in 1957 and passed away on February 25, 2025. The resolution describes her decades of political organizing work with the Democratic Party and progressive causes in Michigan and Georgia, noting she learned the craft from her mother. The Senate expresses condolences to her family and directs the Secretary of the Senate to provide a copy of the resolution to them. ### What it does - Formally honors the life and memory of Ms. Catherine Ann Smith on behalf of the Georgia Senate. - Expresses the Senate's regret at her passing and offers condolences to her family. - Directs the Secretary of the Senate to prepare and distribute a copy of the resolution to her family. - Creates no new law, funding, or regulation; it is a ceremonial statement rather than a legislative mandate. ### Who it affects The resolution directly names the family and friends of Ms. Catherine Ann Smith, who will receive a copy of it. It also reflects on her impact on Democratic Party activists and organizers she trained in Michigan and Georgia. ### Why it matters The resolution has no legal or regulatory effect on Georgians generally. Its practical significance is limited to a formal, public acknowledgment of Ms. Smith's community and political organizing work and an official expression of sympathy delivered to her family. ### Key provisions - The resolution's whereas clauses recount Ms. Smith's birth in 1957, her parents, and her death on February 25, 2025. - The whereas clauses describe her decades of work training activists and organizers for the Democratic Party in Michigan and Georgia. - The first resolving clause has the Senate formally join in honoring her life and expressing regret at her passing. - The second resolving clause directs the Secretary of the Senate to distribute a copy of the resolution to her family. ## Status - Status: Introduced (2025-03-06) - Last action: Senate Read and Referred (2025-03-10) - Sponsors: Jason Esteves, Nan Orrock, Josh McLaurin, Elena Parent, Kim Jackson, Gail Davenport, Kenya Wicks, Michael Rhett, Nabilah Islam Parkes - Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/71192 > The history, votes, and amendments (95 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr354.md?full=1