--- title: SR 497. Sumner, Michael Ernest; condolences collection: bills id: 2025-2026/sr497 cite_as: SR 497, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.) canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr497 md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr497.md text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr497/text source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/71854 date: 2025-03-31 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/sr496.md next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr498.md index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md omitted: votes and history omitted_chars: 94 omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr497.md?full=1 bill_number: SR 497 session: 2025-2026 Regular Session session_slug: 2025-2026 chamber: Senate bill_type: resolution status_date: 2025-03-31 last_action: Senate Read and Adopted sponsors: - Matt Brass - John Kennedy - Steve Gooch - Randy Robertson - Jason Anavitarte - Larry Walker text_version: Enrolled has_text: true legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/SR497/2025 upstream_id: 2016632 summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5 topic_tags: - Senate resolution - condolences - Coweta County - memorial tribute --- # SR 497. Sumner, Michael Ernest; condolences ## Text 25 LC 112 3570 Senate Resolution 497 By: Senators Brass of the 6th, Kennedy of the 18th, Gooch of the 51st, Robertson of the 29th, Anavitarte of the 31st and others A RESOLUTION Honoring the life and memory of Michael Ernest Sumner; and for other purposes.1 WHEREAS, the State of Georgia mourns the loss of one of its most distinguished citizens2 with the passing of Michael Ernest Sumner on February 22, 2025; and3 WHEREAS, Michael Ernest Sumner was born on February 12, 1958, i n Nashville,4 Tennessee, a beloved son of Ernest L. Sumner and Marjorie Meadows Sumner; and5 WHEREAS, his family moved to Decatur, Georgia, in 1959, and he graduated from Lakeside6 High School in 1976, the McIntire School of Commerce at the Uni versity of Virginia in7 1980, and the University of Georgia Lumpkin School of Law in 1984; and8 WHEREAS, Michael Ernest Sumner began his distinguished legal career at Glover & Davis9 before working with Parker, Hudson, Rainer & Dobbs in Atlanta and later establishing his10 own law practice in Newnan in 1996, which continues today as Sumner Meeker LLC; and11 WHEREAS, he dedicated 16 years of service to the Coweta County Board of Education,12 including five years as board chair, where he played a pivotal role in founding the Nixon13 S. R. 497 - 1 - 25 LC 112 3570 Centre for Performing and Visual Arts, developing Georgia's fir st technical charter high14 school, and implementing Coweta County's senior tax exemption; and15 WHEREAS, he was united in love and marriage to his wife of 39 years, Leah, and together16 they were blessed with three remarkable sons, Ernest, Stuart, and Thomas, and a cherished17 granddaughter, Mary; and18 WHEREAS, a man of deep and abiding faith, Michael Ernest Sumner devoted over five19 decades of his life to Central Baptist Church, where he served as a deacon, participated in the20 chancel choir and a Gospel quartet, attended the weekly Men's Bible Study, and taught the21 Connections Sunday School Class alongside Leah; and22 WHEREAS, he was an enthusiastic sports fan who passionately supported Georgia football,23 Virginia basketball, and the Atlanta Braves, with an encyclopedic knowledge of team history,24 statistics, and personalities; and25 WHEREAS, a compassionate and generous man, Michael Ernest Sumne r will long be26 remembered for his love of family, friendship, and community and will be missed by all who27 had the great fortune of knowing him.28 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE that the members of this body29 join in honoring the life and memory of Michael Ernest Sumner a nd express their deepest30 and most sincere regret at his passing.31 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of the Senate is authorized and directed32 to make an appropriate copy of this resolution available for di stribution to the family of33 Michael Ernest Sumner.34 S. R. 497 - 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 Michael Ernest Sumner, a Coweta County attorney and longtime school board member who died on February 22, 2025. ### Plain-language summary This resolution is a formal statement from the Georgia Senate honoring Michael Ernest Sumner, who died on February 22, 2025. It recounts his life story: his birth in Nashville, his family's move to Decatur, Georgia, his education at Lakeside High School, the University of Virginia, and the University of Georgia's Lumpkin School of Law, and his legal career in Newnan, where he founded a law practice now known as Sumner Meeker LLC. The resolution also recognizes his 16 years of service on the Coweta County Board of Education, including five years as chair, and his role in founding the Nixon Centre for Performing and Visual Arts and Georgia's first technical charter high school. It notes his family life and his decades of involvement with Central Baptist Church. The Senate directs that a copy of the resolution be given to his family. ### What it does - Formally expresses the Georgia Senate's regret at the death of Michael Ernest Sumner and honors his life and memory. - Recounts his education, legal career, and 16 years on the Coweta County Board of Education, including founding a technical charter high school. - Directs the Secretary of the Senate to provide a copy of the resolution to Sumner's family. ### Who it affects The resolution directly names Michael Ernest Sumner's family, including his wife and children, and recognizes institutions he was connected to, such as the Coweta County Board of Education and Central Baptist Church in Newnan. ### Why it matters The resolution has no regulatory or legal effect on Georgians generally; it is a ceremonial gesture of the Senate's respect, providing Sumner's family with an official record of the state's recognition of his community service and legal career. ### Key provisions - The whereas clauses detail Sumner's birth, education, and legal career, including founding a law practice in Newnan in 1996. - The resolution credits him with 16 years on the Coweta County Board of Education and helping found the Nixon Centre for Performing and Visual Arts and a technical charter high school. - The resolved clause formally expresses the Senate's regret at his passing and honors his memory. - The final clause directs the Secretary of the Senate to send a copy of the resolution to his family. ## Status - Status: Passed (2025-03-31) - Last action: Senate Read and Adopted (2025-03-31) - Sponsors: Matt Brass, John Kennedy, Steve Gooch, Randy Robertson, Jason Anavitarte, Larry Walker - Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/71854 > The history, votes, and amendments (94 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr497.md?full=1