Georgia CommonsSR 910: Abernathy Sr., Rev. Dr. Ralph David; condolences
Last action March 6, 2026 · Senate Read and Adopted
A Georgia Senate resolution honors the life and legacy of the late Rev. Dr. Ralph David Abernathy Sr., a civil rights leader and close partner of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and expresses condolences on his passing.
The summaries below were written by an AI model (claude-sonnet-5) from the text of the resolution and are not part of it. Quote the text, not the summary. The stored text is the Enrolled version, the latest LegiScan holds.
In plain language
This resolution from the Georgia Senate does not change any law. Instead, it formally recognizes the life of Rev. Dr. Ralph David Abernathy Sr., who was born in 1926 in Linden, served in the U.S. Army during World War II, and later became a pastor and civil rights leader in Georgia and across the nation. The resolution recounts his role as co-founder of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, his partnership with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., his leadership during the Montgomery Bus Boycott, and his later leadership of the Poor People's Campaign after Dr. King's assassination in 1968. The Senate resolves to honor his memory and express condolences for his death in 1990, and directs the Secretary of the Senate to make a copy of the resolution available for distribution.
What the bill does
- Formally honors the life and memory of Rev. Dr. Ralph David Abernathy Sr. on behalf of the Georgia Senate.
- States the Senate's regret at his passing and recognizes his civil rights legacy.
- Directs the Secretary of the Senate to prepare a copy of the resolution for distribution.
- Creates no new law, funding, or ongoing legal obligation; it is a ceremonial statement of the chamber's position.
Who it affects
This resolution primarily affects the Georgia Senate itself, as it records the chamber's official tribute, and the family or associates of Rev. Dr. Ralph David Abernathy Sr., who would receive the distributed copy. It does not impose obligations on the public.
Why it matters
While the resolution carries no legal force, it publicly records the Georgia Senate's recognition of a nationally significant civil rights figure's contributions, preserving that acknowledgment in the state's official legislative record.
Key provisions
- The resolution's whereas clauses recount Rev. Dr. Abernathy's birth, military service, education, ministry, and civil rights leadership.
- The resolving clause states the Senate honors his life and memory and expresses regret at his passing.
- A further resolving clause directs the Secretary of the Senate to make a copy available for distribution.
From the bill
“the members of this body join in honoring the life and memory of Rev. Dr. Ralph David Abernathy Sr. and express their deepest and most sincere regret at his passing”
Status timeline
- Senate Read and Adopted (Senate)
- Senate Hopper (Senate)
Sponsors
- Jaha Howard (D, SD-035)
- Gail Davenport (D, SD-017)
- Tonya Anderson (D, SD-043)
- Donzella James (D, SD-028)
- RaShaun Kemp (D, SD-038)
- Sonya Halpern (D, SD-039)
- Freddie Sims (D, SD-012)
- Nan Orrock (D, SD-036)
Topics
- civil rights history
- Senate resolution
- Georgia history
- commemorations