--- title: SR 411. Johnson, Jr., Handy; recognize collection: bills id: 2025-2026/sr411 cite_as: SR 411, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.) canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr411 md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr411.md text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr411/text source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/71398 date: 2025-03-20 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/sr410.md next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr412.md index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md omitted: votes and history omitted_chars: 94 omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr411.md?full=1 bill_number: SR 411 session: 2025-2026 Regular Session session_slug: 2025-2026 chamber: Senate bill_type: resolution status_date: 2025-03-20 last_action: Senate Read and Adopted sponsors: - Nan Orrock - Harold Jones - Derek Mallow - Kim Jackson - Sonya Halpern - Chuck Payne - Emanuel Jones - Ed Harbison - Nikki Merritt - David Lucas - Nabilah Islam Parkes text_version: Enrolled has_text: true legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/SR411/2025 upstream_id: 2010601 summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5 topic_tags: - legislative honors - Atlanta history - West End neighborhood - Georgia Department of Natural Resources --- # SR 411. Johnson, Jr., Handy; recognize ## Text 25 LC 129 0357 Senate Resolution 411 By: Senators Orrock of the 36th, Jones II of the 22nd, Mallow o f the 2nd, Jackson of the 41st, Halpern of the 39th and others A RESOLUTION Recognizing and commending Handy Johnson, Jr.; and for other purposes.1 WHEREAS, Handy Johnson, Jr., has long been recognized by the ci tizens of this state for2 the vital role that he has played in leadership and his deep pe rsonal commitment to the3 welfare of the citizens of Georgia; and4 WHEREAS, he has diligently and conscientiously devoted innumerable hours of his time,5 talents, and energy toward the betterment of his community and state as evidenced6 dramatically by his superlative service within the West End Neighborhood; and7 WHEREAS, in 1971, Handy and his late wife Lois purchased and restored a historic house8 in West End, and along with their two daughters, Jessica and Ursula, The Johnson's made this9 neighborhood their home; and10 WHEREAS, Handy enrolled in the University of Georgia College of Environment and11 Design and received a master's degree in landscape architecture, making history as the first12 African American to be awarded a graduate degree from that program; and 13 S. R. 411 - 1 - 25 LC 129 0357 WHEREAS, his thesis was "Neighborhood Revitalization: An Analys is of Neighborhood14 Conditions in Atlanta's West End," and it helped to solidify th e structure of the emerging15 West End Neighborhood Development (WEND) organization; and16 WHEREAS, over the years, he served in various leadership positions in WEND as well as17 with the Beautification and Environmental Health Committee, the Piedmont Park18 Conservancy, the Atlanta Urban Design, the Joel Chandler Harris Association (Wren's Nest),19 the Atlanta Preservation Center, and the City of Atlanta Comprehensive Historic Resources20 Survey Steering Committee; and 21 WHEREAS, for 34 years, Handy worked with the State of Georgia Department of Natural22 Resources in the Division of Planning and Research undertaking statewide planning efforts23 and developing numerous parks around the state; and 24 WHEREAS, Handy's significant organizational and leadership talents, remarkable patience25 and diplomacy, keen sense of vision, and sensitivity to the needs of the citizens of this state26 have earned him the respect and admiration of his community; and27 WHEREAS, he is a person of magnanimous strengths with an unimpeachable reputation for28 integrity, intelligence, fairness, and kindness; and29 WHEREAS, it is abundantly fitting and proper that the outstanding accomplishments of this30 remarkable and distinguished Georgian be appropriately recognized.31 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE that the members of this body32 recognize and commend Handy Johnson, Jr., for his efficient, ef fective, unselfish, and33 S. R. 411 - 2 - 25 LC 129 0357 dedicated public service to the State of Georgia and extend the most sincere best wishes for34 continued health and happiness.35 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of the Senate is authorized and directed36 to make an appropriate copy of this resolution available for distribution to Handy Johnson,37 Jr.38 S. R. 411 - 3 - ## 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 honors Handy Johnson, Jr. for decades of civic leadership in Atlanta's West End neighborhood and his career with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources. ### Plain-language summary This resolution is a ceremonial honor passed by the Georgia Senate. It recognizes Handy Johnson, Jr. for his long record of community service, particularly his work restoring a historic home in Atlanta's West End neighborhood starting in 1971 and his role in founding and leading the West End Neighborhood Development organization. The resolution also notes that Johnson earned a master's degree in landscape architecture from the University of Georgia, becoming the first African American to receive a graduate degree from that program, and that he spent 34 years working for the Georgia Department of Natural Resources on statewide park planning. The Senate directs its Secretary to prepare a copy of the resolution for Johnson, but the resolution does not change any Georgia law. ### What it does - Formally recognizes and commends Handy Johnson, Jr. for his public service and community leadership in Georgia. - Directs the Secretary of the Senate to prepare an official copy of the resolution for distribution to Johnson. - Creates no new law, funding, or regulation; it is a purely ceremonial statement of appreciation. ### Who it affects This resolution directly names and honors Handy Johnson, Jr. It has no legal effect on other Georgians, agencies, or businesses; it simply records the Senate's recognition of one individual's community and career achievements. ### Why it matters Ceremonial resolutions like this one carry no legal or financial consequences for Georgians generally. Their significance is symbolic: an official public record of the Senate's appreciation for an individual's civic and professional contributions to the state. ### Key provisions - The resolution recites Johnson's history restoring a historic house in West End with his late wife Lois beginning in 1971. - It notes his master's degree in landscape architecture from the University of Georgia and his 34 years at the Georgia Department of Natural Resources. - The resolving clause formally commends Johnson for his public service to the State of Georgia. - A further clause directs the Secretary of the Senate to provide a copy of the resolution to Johnson. ## Status - Status: Passed (2025-03-20) - Last action: Senate Read and Adopted (2025-03-20) - Sponsors: Nan Orrock, Harold Jones, Derek Mallow, Kim Jackson, Sonya Halpern, Chuck Payne, Emanuel Jones, Ed Harbison, Nikki Merritt, David Lucas, Nabilah Islam Parkes - Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/71398 > The history, votes, and amendments (94 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr411.md?full=1