--- title: SR 49. Simmons, Marvin Gary; condolences collection: bills id: 2025-2026/sr49 cite_as: SR 49, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.) canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr49 md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr49.md text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr49/text source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/69553 date: 2025-01-29 status: passed corpus_version: bills-2026-09-13 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/sr48.md next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr50.md index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md omitted: votes and history omitted_chars: 94 omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr49.md?full=1 bill_number: SR 49 session: 2025-2026 Regular Session session_slug: 2025-2026 chamber: Senate bill_type: resolution status_date: 2025-01-29 last_action: Senate Read and Adopted sponsors: - Jason Anavitarte - John Kennedy - Steve Gooch - Randy Robertson - Matt Brass - Larry Walker - Ben Watson - Kay Kirkpatrick - Sam Watson - Billy Hickman - Shawn Still - Chuck Payne - Drew Echols - Timothy Bearden - Frank Ginn - Brian Strickland - Ricky Williams - Greg Dolezal - Bo Hatchett - Russ Goodman - Brandon Beach - Marty Harbin text_version: Enrolled has_text: true legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/SR49/2025 upstream_id: 1943270 summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5 topic_tags: - memorial resolution - law enforcement - Georgia Senate - veterans --- # SR 49. Simmons, Marvin Gary; condolences ## Text Senate Resolution 49 By: Senators Anavitarte of the 31st, Kennedy of the 18th, Gooch of the 51st, Robertson of the 29th, Brass of the 6th and others A RESOLUTION Honoring the life and memory of Marvin Gary Simmons; and for other purposes. WHEREAS, the State of Georgia mourns the loss of one of its most distinguished citizens with the passing of Marvin Gary Simmons on December 22, 2024; and WHEREAS, Marvin Gary Simmons was born on December 19, 1950, in LaFayette, Georgia, a beloved son of Marshall C. and Evie Denson Simmons; and WHEREAS, during his distinguished career in law enforcement, he served as part of the Floyd County Police Department, Rockmart Police Department, and Polk County Police Department, retiring from the Polk County Sheriff's Department as a captain after 44 years of exemplary service; and WHEREAS, he further served as a veteran of the United States National Guard, honorably and courageously protecting this nation's freedom and liberty as well as ensuring the well-being of his fellow citizens; and WHEREAS, a man of deep and abiding faith, Marvin Gary Simmons was an active member of Pleasant Valley South Baptist Church; and WHEREAS, he was a person of magnanimous strengths with an unimpeachable reputation for integrity, intelligence, fairness, and kindness, and by the example he made of his life, he made this world a better place in which to live; and WHEREAS, a compassionate and generous man, Marvin Gary Simmons will long be remembered for his love of family, friendship, and community and will be missed by all who had the great fortune of knowing him. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE that the members of this body join in honoring the life and memory of Marvin Gary Simmons and express their deepest and most sincere regret at his 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 Marvin Gary Simmons. ## 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 Marvin Gary Simmons, a longtime Polk County law enforcement officer and National Guard veteran who died in December 2024. ### Plain-language summary This is a memorial resolution passed by the Georgia Senate to honor Marvin Gary Simmons, who died on December 22, 2024. The resolution recounts his life, including his birth in LaFayette, Georgia, his 44 years of service in law enforcement with the Floyd County Police Department, Rockmart Police Department, and Polk County Police Department (retiring as a captain from the Polk County Sheriff's Department), his service in the United States National Guard, and his membership in Pleasant Valley South Baptist Church. The resolution formally expresses the Senate's regret at his passing and directs the Secretary of the Senate to send a copy of the resolution 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 condolences on the death of Marvin Gary Simmons. - Recites his biography, including his career in law enforcement and military service, for the official record. - Directs the Secretary of the Senate to prepare and send a copy of the resolution to his family. ### Who it affects The resolution directly concerns the family of Marvin Gary Simmons, who will receive a copy of it. It also reflects on the law enforcement agencies he served, including the Floyd County Police Department, Rockmart Police Department, Polk County Police Department, and Polk County Sheriff's Department. ### Why it matters The resolution carries no legal or regulatory effect and changes no Georgia law. Its significance is symbolic, providing the Simmons family and community with an official Senate tribute recognizing his decades of public service. ### Key provisions - The preamble recounts Simmons's birth, family, 44-year law enforcement career across three agencies, and National Guard service. - The resolved clause states the Senate joins in honoring his life and expresses regret at his passing. - A further resolved clause directs the Secretary of the Senate to distribute a copy of the resolution to his family. ## Status - Status: Passed (2025-01-29) - Last action: Senate Read and Adopted (2025-01-29) - Sponsors: Jason Anavitarte, John Kennedy, Steve Gooch, Randy Robertson, Matt Brass, Larry Walker, Ben Watson, Kay Kirkpatrick, Sam Watson, Billy Hickman, Shawn Still, Chuck Payne, Drew Echols, Timothy Bearden, Frank Ginn, Brian Strickland, Ricky Williams, Greg Dolezal, Bo Hatchett, Russ Goodman, Brandon Beach, Marty Harbin - Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/69553 > The history, votes, and amendments (94 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr49.md?full=1