--- title: SR 485. Barker, Clarence "Ed"; condolences collection: bills id: 2025-2026/sr485 cite_as: SR 485, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.) canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr485 md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr485.md text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr485/text source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/71734 date: 2025-03-28 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/sr484.md next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr486.md index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md omitted: votes and history omitted_chars: 94 omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr485.md?full=1 bill_number: SR 485 session: 2025-2026 Regular Session session_slug: 2025-2026 chamber: Senate bill_type: resolution status_date: 2025-03-28 last_action: Senate Read and Adopted sponsors: - Larry Walker - John Kennedy - David Lucas - Ed Harbison - Ricky Williams - Lee Anderson - Steve Gooch - Freddie Sims - Max Burns - Sally Harrell - Harold Jones - Russ Goodman - Shawn Still text_version: Enrolled has_text: true legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/SR485/2025 upstream_id: 2016128 summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5 topic_tags: - condolence resolution - Georgia Senate history - Warner Robins - state legislators --- # SR 485. Barker, Clarence "Ed"; condolences ## Text 25 LC 112 3532 Senate Resolution 485 By: Senators Walker III of the 20th, Kennedy of the 18th, Lucas of the 26th, Harbison of the 15th, Williams of the 25th and others A RESOLUTION Honoring the life and memory of Clarence "Ed" Barker; and for other purposes.1 WHEREAS, Clarence "Ed" Barker was born in Augusta, Georgia, and raised in Warner2 Robins, Georgia, where he demonstrated a strong work ethic from an early age, including3 operating a gas station while in high school, setting a foundation for his lifelong dedication4 to his community and family; and5 WHEREAS, Ed dedicated nearly two decades of his life to public service, representing the6 18th Senatorial District in middle Georgia for nine consecutive terms from 1973 to 1991,7 during which he worked tirelessly to improve the lives of his constituents and strengthen the8 State of Georgia; and9 WHEREAS, Ed's leadership extended beyond politics as he served as president of the10 Warner Robins Chamber of Commerce and the Air Force Association as well as continued11 to contribute to the growth and prosperity of the community even after his political career;12 and13 S. R. 485 - 1 - 25 LC 112 3532 WHEREAS, after retiring from state politics, Ed and his wife, Janet, moved to Highlands,14 North Carolina, where they built a successful furniture and decorator showroom for over 2015 years, demonstrating their entrepreneurial spirit; and16 WHEREAS, Ed's lifelong commitment to public service and his pas sion for community17 engagement were further evident through his active involvement in President Jimmy Carter's18 campaign and his leadership role in bringing Rev. Billy Graham' s series of services to19 Georgia, enriching the lives of many Georgians; and20 WHEREAS, Ed's legacy continues through his loving family, including his wife of over 7021 years, Janet, as well as his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, all of whom he22 deeply cared for and whose lives he touched with kindness, wisdom, and dedication.23 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE that the members of this body24 join in honoring the life and memory of Clarence "Ed" Barker and express their deepest and25 most sincere regret at his passing.26 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of the Senate is authorized and directed27 to make an appropriate copy of this resolution available for di stribution to the family of28 Clarence "Ed" Barker.29 S. R. 485 - 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 of Clarence "Ed" Barker, a former state senator from the 18th District who represented middle Georgia for nine terms, following his death. ### Plain-language summary This resolution is a memorial passed by the Georgia Senate to honor Clarence "Ed" Barker, who served in the state Senate representing the 18th Senatorial District for nine consecutive terms from 1973 to 1991. The resolution recounts his early life in Warner Robins, Georgia, his service to his constituents, his leadership roles in the Warner Robins Chamber of Commerce and the Air Force Association, and his later career running a furniture and decorator showroom in North Carolina with his wife Janet. The resolution formally expresses the Senate's regret at his passing and directs the Secretary of the Senate to prepare a copy of the resolution for delivery to his family. It does not change any Georgia law; it is a ceremonial statement of tribute. ### What it does - Formally expresses the Georgia Senate's regret at the death of former state senator Clarence "Ed" Barker. - Recounts Barker's nine terms representing the 18th Senatorial District from 1973 to 1991 and his community leadership roles. - Directs the Secretary of the Senate to prepare and send a copy of the resolution to Barker's family. ### Who it affects The resolution directly names the family of Clarence "Ed" Barker, including his wife Janet and his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, and involves the Secretary of the Senate, who must prepare and distribute a copy of the resolution. ### Why it matters The resolution carries no legal or regulatory effect and changes no Georgia law. Its practical significance is symbolic: it creates an official Senate record honoring Barker's decades of public service and gives his family a formal keepsake from the state legislature. ### Key provisions - The whereas clauses describe Barker's background, his nine terms representing the 18th Senatorial District from 1973 to 1991, and his community and business activities after leaving office. - The resolved clause states that the Senate joins in honoring Barker's life and memory and expresses regret at his passing. - A further resolved clause directs the Secretary of the Senate to make a copy available for distribution to Barker's family. ## Status - Status: Passed (2025-03-28) - Last action: Senate Read and Adopted (2025-03-28) - Sponsors: Larry Walker, John Kennedy, David Lucas, Ed Harbison, Ricky Williams, Lee Anderson, Steve Gooch, Freddie Sims, Max Burns, Sally Harrell, Harold Jones, Russ Goodman, Shawn Still - Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/71734 > The history, votes, and amendments (94 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr485.md?full=1