--- title: SR 438. Pirzad, Dorothy Roberts; condolences collection: bills id: 2025-2026/sr438 cite_as: SR 438, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.) canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr438 md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr438.md text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr438/text source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/71545 date: 2025-03-21 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/sr437.md next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr439.md index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md omitted: votes and history omitted_chars: 94 omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr438.md?full=1 bill_number: SR 438 session: 2025-2026 Regular Session session_slug: 2025-2026 chamber: Senate bill_type: resolution status_date: 2025-03-21 last_action: Senate Read and Adopted sponsors: - Nan Orrock - Elena Parent - Kim Jackson - RaShaun Kemp - Ed Harbison - David Lucas - Sheikh Rahman - Sonya Halpern - Sally Harrell - Gail Davenport - Tonya Anderson text_version: Enrolled has_text: true legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/SR438/2025 upstream_id: 2012200 summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5 topic_tags: - condolence resolution - Georgia Senate - civil rights activism - Atlanta history --- # SR 438. Pirzad, Dorothy Roberts; condolences ## Text 25 LC 112 3450 Senate Resolution 438 By: Senators Orrock of the 36th, Parent of the 44th, Jackson of the 41st, Kemp of the 38th, Harbison of the 15th and others A RESOLUTION Honoring the life and memory of Dorothy Roberts Pirzad; and for other purposes.1 WHEREAS, the State of Georgia mourns the loss of one of its most distinguished citizens2 with the passing of Dorothy Roberts Pirzad on March 6, 2025; and3 WHEREAS, Dorothy Roberts Pirzad was born on November 20, 1940, in Pulaski, Virginia,4 a beloved daughter of Jesse Roberts and Juanita Costigan, and she was deeply influenced by5 the wisdom and discipline of her grandmother, Bertha Costigan; and6 WHEREAS, she dedicated her life to activism and advocacy, working for civil rights, world7 peace, and compassionate care, including her service with the National Council of Churches8 in Manhattan, where she helped organize civil rights action; and9 WHEREAS, she was an original staff member of The Great Speckled Bird, using her voice10 to speak truth to power, and she worked with the Vietnam Veterans Center in Atlanta, where11 she counseled and advocated for veterans in need; and12 S. R. 438 - 1 - 25 LC 112 3450 WHEREAS, she was actively enga ged in her comm unity, serving as both a political and13 personal organizer alongside Atlanta legislators and leaders wh ile opening her home to14 young people in need of shelter, care, and guidance; and15 WHEREAS, she shared her entrepreneurial and creative talents through numerous ventures,16 including founding Dragonwyck Wax Works in Washington, D.C., and later nurturing minds17 and bodies through her paper flower art business in Midtown Atlanta; and18 WHEREAS, Dorothy Roberts Pirzad was a beloved mother, grandmoth er, and19 great-grandmother to Lisa, Lela, Nina, Angelica, Mickey, Audrey , and Welzie June,20 nurturing their creativity, kindness, and curiosity about the world; and21 WHEREAS, she formed deep and meaningful connections with friend s and loved ones22 across the world, filling her life with music, art, literature, and photography, capturing the23 beauty of the world and those around her; and24 WHEREAS, a compassionate and generous woman, Dorothy Roberts Pi rzad will long be25 remembered for her love of family, friendship, and community and will be missed by all who26 had the great fortune of knowing her.27 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE that the members of this body28 join in honoring the life and memory of Dorothy Roberts Pirzad and express their deepest29 and most sincere regret at her passing.30 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of the Senate is authorized and directed31 to make an appropriate copy of this resolution available for di stribution to the family of32 Dorothy Roberts Pirzad.33 S. R. 438 - 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 the life and memory of Dorothy Roberts Pirzad, a longtime activist and community organizer who died on March 6, 2025. ### Plain-language summary This resolution is a formal statement from the Georgia Senate marking the death of Dorothy Roberts Pirzad, who passed away on March 6, 2025. It recounts her life story, including her birth in Pulaski, Virginia in 1940, her civil rights and peace activism, her work with the National Council of Churches and the Vietnam Veterans Center in Atlanta, and her creative ventures such as founding Dragonwyck Wax Works and a paper flower art business in Midtown Atlanta. The resolution formally expresses the Senate's regret at her passing and directs the Secretary of the Senate to prepare a copy for distribution to her family. It does not change any Georgia law; it is a ceremonial tribute. ### What it does - Formally states that the Georgia Senate mourns the death of Dorothy Roberts Pirzad and honors her life and memory. - Recites biographical details about her activism, career, and family as the basis for the tribute. - Directs the Secretary of the Senate to prepare and distribute a copy of the resolution to her family. - Does not create, amend, or repeal any statute or impose any requirement on the public. ### Who it affects This resolution directly affects the family of Dorothy Roberts Pirzad, who will receive a copy of it, and reflects the Georgia Senate's formal acknowledgment of her life; it has no legal effect on the general public. ### Why it matters While the resolution carries no legal or regulatory weight, it provides an official, public record of the Georgia Senate's recognition of Dorothy Roberts Pirzad's civic contributions and offers her family a formal token of condolence from the state legislature. ### Key provisions - The resolution's whereas clauses recount her birth, family background, civil rights and peace activism, and career ventures. - The first resolving clause has the Senate join in honoring her life and express regret at her passing. - The second resolving clause directs the Secretary of the Senate to make a copy available for distribution to her family. ## Status - Status: Passed (2025-03-21) - Last action: Senate Read and Adopted (2025-03-21) - Sponsors: Nan Orrock, Elena Parent, Kim Jackson, RaShaun Kemp, Ed Harbison, David Lucas, Sheikh Rahman, Sonya Halpern, Sally Harrell, Gail Davenport, Tonya Anderson - Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/71545 > The history, votes, and amendments (94 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr438.md?full=1