--- title: SR 582. Langston Funeral Home of Buena Vista, Georgia; recognize collection: bills id: 2025-2026/sr582 cite_as: SR 582, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.) canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr582 md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr582.md text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr582/text source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/72287 date: 2026-01-27 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/sr581.md next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr583.md index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md omitted: votes and history omitted_chars: 94 omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr582.md?full=1 bill_number: SR 582 session: 2025-2026 Regular Session session_slug: 2025-2026 chamber: Senate bill_type: resolution status_date: 2026-01-27 last_action: Senate Read and Adopted sponsors: - Ed Harbison - Kenya Wicks text_version: Enrolled has_text: true legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/SR582/2025 upstream_id: 2085235 summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5 topic_tags: - legislative honors - Buena Vista Georgia - Marion County history - funeral industry --- # SR 582. Langston Funeral Home of Buena Vista, Georgia; recognize ## Text Senate Resolution 582 By: Senators Harbison of the 15th and Wicks of the 34th A RESOLUTION Recognizing and commending Langston Funeral Home of Buena Vista, Georgia, on the occasion of its more than 60 years of dedicated service to the community; and for other purposes. WHEREAS, since its establishment in 1966, Langston Funeral Home has stood as a cornerstone of dignity, compassion, and service in Buena Vista, Marion County, Georgia, providing families with care, respect, and professionalism during their most difficult moments; and WHEREAS, Langston Funeral Home was founded by the remarkable mother-and-son duo, Mrs. Charlie Jane Mathis Langston and Mr. Charlie Edward Matthews, both licensed Funeral Directors—an uncommon and groundbreaking achievement at the time, particularly for African Americans in rural Georgia—and proud members of the Third District Georgia Funeral Service Practitioners Association; and WHEREAS, Mrs. Charlie Jane Mathis Langston was a true pioneer whose service extended far beyond funeral care, dedicating 36 years to education as a teacher and principal, while also breaking historic barriers as the first African-American female licensed Funeral Director in Marion County and the first African-American female Probation Officer in Marion County and the City of Buena Vista; and WHEREAS, Mrs. Langston's exemplary life of service was recognized through numerous honors, including Mortician of the Year in 1978, the prestigious Martin Edwards Award in 1981, and on the occasion of her 100th birthday, she was presented the Key to the City of Buena Vista, an honor championed by former City Councilwoman Mrs. Gladys Thomas; and WHEREAS, in a powerful symbol of her lifelong dedication to service and community, Mrs. Langston was laid to rest with the Key to the City upon her passing in 2006, at the age of 103; and WHEREAS, her son, Mr. Charlie Edward Matthews, carried forward the family legacy as a licensed Funeral Director and entrepreneur, serving families with compassion and care until his passing in 2020, while also expanding the original facility from approximately 800 square feet to more than 2,000 square feet and laying the groundwork for future growth and partnership; and WHEREAS, in January 2011, the funeral home entered a new chapter through a merger with Brown Funeral Home, formerly owned by Reverend Joseph Brown, becoming Langston & Brown Funeral Service (DBA), thereby expanding its reach while maintaining its commitment to personalized, family-centered care; and WHEREAS, in January 2021, the next generation of the Langston-Matthews family stepped forward to continue this proud legacy, including Dr. Sonja L. Matthews Coaxum, daughter and granddaughter of the founders, along with the founders' grandchildren Trenton R. Matthews, DeShon McNeill, and Blaze Coaxum, reaffirming a multi-generational commitment to service; and WHEREAS, later in 2021, the business reclaimed its original name, Langston Funeral Home, LLC, and formally transitioned to a limited liability company, demonstrating resilience and determination even in the face of profound loss following the passing of Trenton R. Matthews; and WHEREAS, Dr. Sonja L. Matthews Coaxum has continued the tradition of excellence by earning an Associate Degree in Mortuary Science from Columbus Technical College and holding a Professional Funeral Apprentice License, exemplifying the hands-on service and dedication that have defined the firm since its inception; and WHEREAS, today, Langston Funeral Home is operated by Dr. Sonja L. Matthews Coaxum alongside Mr. Joseph Brown, and though modest in size, the firm's impact is profound—having served generations of families, often caring for multiple members of the same family across decades, with compassion, dignity, care, and concern; and WHEREAS, Langston Funeral Home stands as more than a business, it is a living testament to faith, resilience, generational perseverance, and unwavering service, reflecting the strength and spirit of the community it has faithfully served for over sixty years. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE that the members of this body recognize and commend Langston Funeral Home of Buena Vista, Georgia, for its more than 60 years of exemplary service, leadership, and compassion, as well as extend sincere appreciation to the Langston-Matthews family and all those who have contributed to its enduring legacy. 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 Langston Funeral Home. ## 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 Langston Funeral Home of Buena Vista for more than 60 years of service to the community and its founding family's history. ### Plain-language summary This is a ceremonial resolution from the Georgia Senate, not a change to state law. It recognizes Langston Funeral Home in Buena Vista, Marion County, which was founded in 1966 by Mrs. Charlie Jane Mathis Langston and her son Mr. Charlie Edward Matthews, both licensed funeral directors. The resolution recounts the family's history, including Mrs. Langston's careers as an educator and probation officer, her later merger with Brown Funeral Home, and the current operation of the business by Dr. Sonja L. Matthews Coaxum and Mr. Joseph Brown. The resolution commends the funeral home and the Langston-Matthews family for their decades of service and directs the Secretary of the Senate to send a copy of the resolution to the funeral home as a keepsake. It does not create, amend, or repeal any Georgia statute. ### What it does - Formally recognizes and commends Langston Funeral Home of Buena Vista for over 60 years of service to the community. - Extends the Georgia Senate's appreciation to the Langston-Matthews family and others who contributed to the business's legacy. - Directs the Secretary of the Senate to prepare and distribute a copy of the resolution to the funeral home. - Creates no new law, funding, or regulatory requirement; it is a symbolic honor rather than a change to O.C.G.A. ### Who it affects The resolution directly names Langston Funeral Home of Buena Vista, its founding family (the Langstons and Matthews), current operators Dr. Sonja L. Matthews Coaxum and Mr. Joseph Brown, and the Buena Vista and Marion County community the business has served since 1966. ### Why it matters The resolution carries no legal or regulatory effect and does not change how the funeral home operates or is licensed. Its practical effect is a formal, public statement of appreciation from the Georgia Senate that becomes part of the legislative record and is given to the family as a memento. ### Key provisions - The resolving clause recognizes and commends Langston Funeral Home for its more than 60 years of service, leadership, and compassion. - A further resolving clause directs the Secretary of the Senate to make a copy available for distribution to the funeral home. - The preamble (whereas clauses) recounts the founding in 1966, key family milestones, honors received, and the business's 2011 merger and 2021 restructuring as an LLC. ## Status - Status: Passed (2026-01-27) - Last action: Senate Read and Adopted (2026-01-27) - Sponsors: Ed Harbison, Kenya Wicks - Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/72287 > The history, votes, and amendments (94 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr582.md?full=1