---
title: SR 767. Shearouse, Celeste Coleman; condolences
collection: bills
id: 2025-2026/sr767
cite_as: SR 767, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr767
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr767.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr767/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/73179
date: 2026-02-17
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/sr766.md
next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr768.md
index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md
omitted: votes and history
omitted_chars: 94
omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr767.md?full=1
bill_number: SR 767
session: 2025-2026 Regular Session
session_slug: 2025-2026
chamber: Senate
bill_type: resolution
status_date: 2026-02-17
last_action: Senate Read and Adopted
sponsors:
  - Derek Mallow
  - Ben Watson
  - Billy Hickman
text_version: Enrolled
has_text: true
legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/SR767/2025
upstream_id: 2116223
summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5
topic_tags:
  - condolence resolution
  - Savannah
  - Georgia Senate
---

# SR 767. Shearouse, Celeste Coleman; condolences

## Text

Senate Resolution 767
By: Senators Mallow of the 2nd, Watson of the 1st and Hickman of the 4th
A RESOLUTION
Honoring the life and memory of Celeste Coleman Shearouse; and for other purposes.
WHEREAS, the State of Georgia mourns the loss of one of its most distinguished citizens
with the passing of Celeste Coleman Shearouse of Savannah, Georgia, on January 30, 2026;
and
WHEREAS, Celeste Coleman Shearouse was born on May 14, 1951, a beloved daughter of
Tom and Mary Coleman; and
WHEREAS, she was united in love and marriage to her husband, Joseph, and was blessed
with four remarkable children, Mary, Joseph, Elizabeth, and Stephanie; and 10 wonderful
grandchildren, Thomas, Celeste, Lucy, Andie, Finn, Sam, Madeline, Amelia, Claire, and
Whelan; and
WHEREAS, she gave inspiration to many through her high ideals, morals, and deep concern
for her fellow citizens, and the devotion, patience, and understanding she demonstrated to
her family and friends were admired by others; and
WHEREAS, Celeste passionately served with St. Joseph's Candler Hospital for 37 years and
dedicated innumerable amounts of time and energy to volunteering with SAFE KIDS
Savannah; and
WHEREAS, along with her father, Tom Coleman, and Sr. Jude Walsh, she founded the St.
Vincent's 1845 Foundation for the preservation of the St. Vincent's convent; she also started
the first St. Vincent's Athletic Association to help students compete at high levels, foster
personal growth, and enhance their athletic experience; and
WHEREAS, she was a person of magnanimous strengths with an unimpeachable reputation
for integrity, intelligence, fairness, and kindness, and by the example she made of her life,
she made this world a better place in which to live; and
WHEREAS, a compassionate and generous woman, Celeste will long be remembered for her
love of family, friendship, and community and will be missed by all who had the great
fortune of knowing her.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE that the members of this body
join in honoring the life and memory of Celeste Coleman Shearouse and express their
deepest and most sincere regret at her 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
Celeste Coleman Shearouse.

## 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 Celeste Coleman Shearouse of Savannah, who died on January 30, 2026, and directs a copy be sent to her family.

### Plain-language summary

This Senate resolution is a memorial tribute rather than a change to any law. It recognizes the life of Celeste Coleman Shearouse of Savannah, Georgia, who passed away on January 30, 2026, describing her family, her decades of work with St. Joseph's Candler Hospital, her volunteer work with SAFE KIDS Savannah, and her role founding the St. Vincent's 1845 Foundation and the first St. Vincent's Athletic Association.
The resolution formally states that the Senate joins in honoring her memory and expresses its regret at her passing. It also directs the Secretary of the Senate to prepare a copy of the resolution for distribution to her family. It does not create, amend, or repeal any Georgia statute.

### What it does

- Formally states that the Georgia Senate honors the life and memory of Celeste Coleman Shearouse and expresses regret at her passing.
- Recounts her biography, family, career at St. Joseph's Candler Hospital, and volunteer and founding work with local charitable and athletic organizations.
- Directs the Secretary of the Senate to prepare and distribute a copy of the resolution to her family.

### Who it affects

This resolution primarily affects the family of Celeste Coleman Shearouse, who will receive a formal copy, and has no regulatory effect on the general public, businesses, or government agencies.

### Why it matters

The resolution carries no legal or financial consequences and changes no Georgia law. Its significance is symbolic, offering the Senate's public recognition of an individual's life and community contributions, and providing her family with an official memorial document.

### Key provisions

- The resolution's whereas clauses detail Shearouse's birth, family, 37-year career at St. Joseph's Candler Hospital, and volunteer work with SAFE KIDS Savannah.
- The resolved clause formally honors her life and memory and expresses the Senate's regret at her passing.
- A further resolved clause directs the Secretary of the Senate to make a copy available for distribution to her family.

## Status

- Status: Passed (2026-02-17)
- Last action: Senate Read and Adopted (2026-02-17)
- Sponsors: Derek Mallow, Ben Watson, Billy Hickman
- Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/73179

> The history, votes, and amendments (94 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr767.md?full=1