--- title: SR 804. Heyward, Lieutenant Colonel (Ret.) Geneva; recognize collection: bills id: 2025-2026/sr804 cite_as: SR 804, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.) canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr804 md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr804.md text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr804/text source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/73355 date: 2026-02-19 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/sr803.md next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr805.md index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md omitted: votes and history omitted_chars: 94 omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr804.md?full=1 bill_number: SR 804 session: 2025-2026 Regular Session session_slug: 2025-2026 chamber: Senate bill_type: resolution status_date: 2026-02-19 last_action: Senate Read and Adopted sponsors: - Kenya Wicks - Tonya Anderson text_version: Enrolled has_text: true legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/SR804/2025 upstream_id: 2119574 summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5 topic_tags: - military service recognition - veterans - Georgia Senate resolutions - Signal Corps --- # SR 804. Heyward, Lieutenant Colonel (Ret.) Geneva; recognize ## Text Senate Resolution 804 By: Senators Wicks of the 34th and Anderson of the 43rd A RESOLUTION Recognizing and commending Lieutenant Colonel (Ret.) Geneva Heyward; and for other purposes. WHEREAS, Lieutenant Colonel (Ret.) Geneva Heyward served as a guardian of this nation's freedom and liberty with the United States Army, valiantly and courageously protecting her fellow Americans for 27 years as a Communications Electronic Officer in the Signal Corps across both active duty and the Army Reserve; and WHEREAS, a native of Beaufort, South Carolina, she earned her commission as a Second Lieutenant upon graduation from Central State University in Wilberforce, Ohio, beginning her distinguished military career in 1981; and WHEREAS, she completed the Signal Corps Officer Basic Course at Fort Gordon, Georgia, and was assigned to the United States Army Communications Electronics Command Forces as assigned CE Officer, where she was responsible for providing communications support and services both stateside and abroad; and WHEREAS, she was promoted to First Lieutenant in 1982 and was stationed in Germany in 1983 with the 52nd Signal Battalion, where she played a pivotal role in the successful European Telephone Exchange Cutover; and WHEREAS, after being promoted to Captain in 1985, she returned to Atlanta, Georgia, in 1986 and transitioned to the United States Army Reserve, joining the 335th Signal Theater Command as a Communications Officer and Equal Opportunity Advisor; and WHEREAS, she was promoted to Major in 1993 while continuing her service with the 335th Signal Theater Command, later transferring to the 2nd Battalion, 347th Regiment, 87th Division at Fort Eisenhower and subsequently serving as an Equal Opportunity Advisor and Signal Lanes Officer-in-Charge at Fort Gillem; and WHEREAS, she completed Command and General Staff College in 1994 and was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel in 2000, joining the FORSCOM Augmentation Unit as Operations Team Officer-in-Charge in G6, where she ensured the successful execution of 24-hour communications operations at the United States Army Forces Command; and WHEREAS, her final assignment was with the 1st Army Headquarters at Fort Gillem, where she served as an Operations and Training Officer, ensuring units received the necessary training materials and preparation; and WHEREAS, a highly decorated veteran, Lieutenant Colonel (Ret.) Heyward has earned numerous awards and decorations, including the President's Lifetime Achievement Award and two Meritorious Service Medals; and WHEREAS, Lieutenant Colonel (Ret.) Heyward remains actively engaged in her community as a charter and life member of the National Association of Black Military Women, where she has volunteered with NABMW's Real Women Read initiative; and WHEREAS, it is abundantly fitting and proper that the outstanding accomplishments of this remarkable and distinguished individual be appropriately recognized. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE that the members of this body recognize and commend Lieutenant Colonel (Ret.) Geneva Heyward for her exceptional career and dedicated service to her nation and extend the most sincere best wishes for continued health and happiness. 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 Lieutenant Colonel (Ret.) Geneva Heyward. ## 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 retired Lieutenant Colonel Geneva Heyward for her 27 years of service in the United States Army Signal Corps and continued community work. ### Plain-language summary This resolution is a formal statement from the Georgia Senate recognizing Lieutenant Colonel (Ret.) Geneva Heyward for her military career and community service. It does not change any Georgia law; it is a ceremonial tribute. The resolution recounts Heyward's 27 years of service as a Communications Electronic Officer in the Army Signal Corps, tracing her path from her commissioning at Central State University in 1981 through assignments in Germany, Atlanta, and Georgia posts including Fort Gordon, Fort Gillem, and Fort Eisenhower, ending with her final assignment at 1st Army Headquarters. It also notes her awards and her continued volunteer work with the National Association of Black Military Women. The Senate directs its Secretary to provide Heyward with a copy of the resolution. ### What it does - Formally recognizes and commends Lieutenant Colonel (Ret.) Geneva Heyward for her 27-year military career in the Army Signal Corps. - Directs the Secretary of the Senate to prepare and distribute a copy of the resolution to Heyward. - Does not create, amend, or repeal any Georgia statute; it has no regulatory or funding effect. ### Who it affects The resolution directly names and honors Lieutenant Colonel (Ret.) Geneva Heyward. It has no legal effect on any other group of Georgians, businesses, or government agencies. ### Why it matters This is a symbolic honor rather than a policy change, so it does not alter anyone's rights, obligations, or funding. Its practical effect is limited to formal recognition of Heyward's military service and a distributed copy of the resolution for her. ### Key provisions - The resolution recites Heyward's military biography, including her commissioning in 1981 and assignments through 2000 and beyond. - The resolving clause formally commends Heyward for her career and service. - The final clause directs the Secretary of the Senate to distribute a copy of the resolution to her. ## Status - Status: Passed (2026-02-19) - Last action: Senate Read and Adopted (2026-02-19) - Sponsors: Kenya Wicks, Tonya Anderson - Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/73355 > The history, votes, and amendments (94 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr804.md?full=1