Senate Resolution 679
By: Senators Jones of the 10th, Jackson of the 41st, Kemp of the 38th, Wicks of the 34th,
Mangham of the 55th and others
A RESOLUTION
Honoring the life and memory of Bishop William "Bill" Harris and recognizing February 17,
2026, as Bishop William "Bill" Harris Day; and for other purposes.
WHEREAS, the State of Georgia mourns the loss of one of its most distinguished citizens
with the passing of Bishop William "Bill" Harris on December 9, 2025; and
WHEREAS, Bishop William "Bill" Harris was born on February 1, 1943, in Albany,
Georgia, a beloved son, husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, community leader,
and civil rights activist; and
WHEREAS, a man of deep and abiding faith, Bishop William Harris was called to ministry
in 1977 and is the founder and retired pastor of Bethel Church Ministries, Inc., in Monroe,
Georgia; and
WHEREAS, he served as Dean of Ministers for the Northern Diocese for nine years, was
appointed State Evangelist for the Northern Diocese Churches of Our Lord Jesus Christ in
1993, and was appointed as Chaplain for the Regional 7th District of Alabama and Georgia
for the Churches of Our Lord Jesus Christ of the Apostolic Faith, Inc; and
WHEREAS, Bishop Harris also served as a field worker for the Student Non-violent
Coordinating Committee (SNCC), the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC),
and was a founding member of the Atlanta SCLC chapter; and
WHEREAS, at the height of the Civil Rights Movement in the 1960s, Bishop Harris worked
with and marched alongside his friends and fellow civil rights family, the late Dr. Martin
Luther King, Jr., Congressman John Lewis, Hosea Williams, Rev. Ralph D. Abernathy, and
other pioneers of the Civil Rights Movement; and
WHEREAS, Bishop Harris is intimately familiar with the struggles, suffering, and injustices
endured by the African American people during the 1960s, as he himself was beaten and
jailed and had police dogs attack him during the protests; and
WHEREAS, he was an original member of The Freedom singers for justice, and went into
cities before rallies and marches to inspire protesters and workers through song; and
WHEREAS, he was instrumental in the Mississippi March, participated in the Moore’s Ford
Bridge March, and stood alongside his good friend Rev. Hosea Williams when he led the
protests in Bishop Harris’s hometown of, Albany, Georgia, to organize the voter registration
and desegregation efforts; and
WHEREAS, Bishop Harris is one of the co-founders of the Veterans Civil Rights Movement
Organization SCLC Atlanta affiliated chapter and was the Chaplin for The Georgia
Conference of African American Mayors; and
WHEREAS, in the late 60s and early 70s Bishop Harris was a recording artist with Emory
and The Dynamics, and performed and toured with such artists as Jerry Butler, Jackie
Wilson, Curtis Mayfield, The Impressions, David Ruffin, Little Richard , The Temptations,
Mitty Collier, The Jackson 5, and many others; and
WHEREAS, up until his earthly transition, Bishop Harris continued to travel around the
country speaking to the younger generations, educating them on the history of the civil rights
movement and participating in local protests and civil rights activities.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE that the members of this body
join in honoring the life and memory of Bishop William "Bill" Harris; recognize February
17, 2026, as Bishop William "Bill" Harris Day; 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
Bishop William "Bill" Harris.