--- title: SR 421. White-Smith, Willene; recognize collection: bills id: 2025-2026/sr421 cite_as: SR 421, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.) canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr421 md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr421.md text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr421/text source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/71475 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/sr420.md next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr422.md index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md omitted: votes and history omitted_chars: 94 omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr421.md?full=1 bill_number: SR 421 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: - Donzella James text_version: Enrolled has_text: true legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/SR421/2025 upstream_id: 2011431 summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5 topic_tags: - Georgia Senate resolution - Georgia Bureau of Investigation - Morris Brown College - community recognition --- # SR 421. White-Smith, Willene; recognize ## Text 25 LC 112 3437 Senate Resolution 421 By: Senator James of the 28th A RESOLUTION Recognizing and commending Willene White-Smith; and for other purposes.1 WHEREAS, Willene White-Smith is a dedicated public servant and community leader who2 has demonstrated a lifelong commitment to education, public safety, and the advancement3 of Morris Brown College and its alumni; and4 WHEREAS, she devoted 34 years of exemplary service to the Georg i a B u r e a u o f5 Investigation (GBI) as the Manager of Georgia's Uniform Crime R eporting (UCR) and6 Family Violence (FV) Programs, overseeing the collection and di ssemination of critical7 crime data reported by more than 700 law enforcement agencies across the state; and8 WHEREAS, a proud graduate of Morris Brown College, she earned a Bachelor of Science9 in business management on May 15, 1977, and continued her studi es at Oglethorpe10 University and Columbus Command College through the GBI; and11 WHEREAS, she has remained a steadfast advocate for Morris Brown College through her12 leadership in the Morris Brown College Alumni Association, serv ing as the 8th and 10th13 president of the Women for Morris Brown College Inc.; and14 S. R. 421 - 1 - 25 LC 112 3437 WHEREAS, she has further contributed to the Morris Brown College community through15 her involvement with the MBC Friends of Fountain Hall, the MBC Alumni Focus Group, and16 the MBC DeKalb Alumni Chapter; and17 WHEREAS, her unwavering commitment to education, service, and historical preservation18 extends beyond her alma mater, as evidenced by her active parti cipation in the Atlanta19 HBCU Alliance and the AIAC-UNCF Chapter, supporting historically Black colleges and20 universities throughout the region; and21 WHEREAS, it is abundantly fitting and proper that this remarkab le individual be22 appropriately honored during this special time.23 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE that the members of this body24 recognize and commend Willene White-Smith for her outstanding career in public service25 and her unwavering dedication to Morris Brown College as well as extend best wishes for26 her continued success.27 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of the Senate is authorized and directed28 to make an appropriate copy of this resolution available for di stribution to Willene29 White-Smith.30 S. R. 421 - 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 Senate resolution honors Willene White-Smith, a retired Georgia Bureau of Investigation manager and Morris Brown College alumni leader, for her decades of public service. ### Plain-language summary This is a ceremonial resolution from the Georgia Senate recognizing Willene White-Smith. It describes her 34 years of service at the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, where she managed the state's Uniform Crime Reporting and Family Violence Programs, overseeing crime data collected from more than 700 law enforcement agencies. It also highlights her education at Morris Brown College and her long involvement with alumni and historically Black college support organizations. The resolution does not change any Georgia law. It formally commends White-Smith for her career and her volunteer work, and it directs the Secretary of the Senate to prepare a copy of the resolution for her. ### What it does - Formally recognizes and commends Willene White-Smith for her 34 years of service at the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. - States praise for her leadership roles in the Morris Brown College Alumni Association and related alumni groups. - Directs the Secretary of the Senate to prepare and distribute an official copy of the resolution to White-Smith. - Extends the Senate's best wishes for her continued success but creates no legal requirements or funding. ### Who it affects The resolution directly names Willene White-Smith, a retired Georgia Bureau of Investigation employee and Morris Brown College alumna. It also references the Secretary of the Senate, who must prepare a copy of the resolution for her. ### Why it matters This resolution is symbolic rather than legally binding. It does not create programs, spend money, or change any Georgia statute; its practical effect is a formal, on-the-record honor from the state Senate presented to White-Smith. ### Key provisions - The whereas clauses describe White-Smith's 34 years managing the GBI's Uniform Crime Reporting and Family Violence Programs, covering data from over 700 law enforcement agencies. - The whereas clauses note her Bachelor of Science from Morris Brown College earned May 15, 1977, and further study at Oglethorpe University and Columbus Command College. - The resolved clause formally commends her for her public service career and dedication to Morris Brown College. - A further resolved clause directs the Secretary of the Senate to make a copy available for distribution to her. ## Status - Status: Passed (2025-03-20) - Last action: Senate Read and Adopted (2025-03-20) - Sponsors: Donzella James - Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/71475 > The history, votes, and amendments (94 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr421.md?full=1