---
title: HR 20. Thomas, Morriscene Watts; condolences
collection: bills
id: 2026-special/hr20
cite_as: HR 20, 2026 Special Session (Ga.)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2026-special/hr20
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2026-special/hr20.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2026-special/hr20/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/74868
date: 2026-06-20
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/2026-special.md
previous: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2026-special/hr19.md
next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2026-special/hr21.md
index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md
omitted: votes and history
omitted_chars: 131
omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2026-special/hr20.md?full=1
bill_number: HR 20
session: 2026 Special Session
session_slug: 2026-special
chamber: House
bill_type: resolution
status_date: 2026-06-20
last_action: House Read and Adopted
sponsors:
  - Angela Moore
text_version: Introduced
has_text: true
legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/HR20/2026/X1
upstream_id: 2154376
summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5
topic_tags:
  - condolence resolution
  - Georgia House of Representatives
  - civil rights history
  - education
---

# HR 20. Thomas, Morriscene Watts; condolences

## Text

House Resolution 20EX
By: Representative Moore of the 91st
A RESOLUTION
Honoring the life and memory of Morriscene Watts Thomas; and for other purposes.
WHEREAS, the State of Georgia mourns the loss of one of its most distinguished citizens
with the passing of Morriscene Watts Thomas; and
WHEREAS, Morriscene Watts Thomas was born on November 29, 1928, in Philadelphia
Pennsylvania, a beloved daughter of Taylor Harry Stephens and Justine Collier Watts; and
WHEREAS, a beloved educator, she devoted more than 26 years of service to public
education, shaping the lives of countless students through her work as a teacher and mentor
in the Atlanta Public School System; and
WHEREAS, she further dedicated innumerable hours of her time and energy toward her
community throughout her life, attending civil rights rallies with her friend and classmate,
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and participating in numerous activities with the Southern
Christian Leadership Conference; and
WHEREAS, a woman of deep and abiding faith, Morriscene Watts Thomas was an active
member of St. Paul of the Cross Catholic Church; and
H. R. 20EX
WHEREAS, Morriscene Watts Thomas was blessed with four remarkable children, Eleanor,
Donzella, Mamie, and Lisa; seven wonderful grandchildren, Rhonda, Ralph Jr., Brian,
Roman, Martysses, Mark, and Penny; and a host of beloved great– and
great-great-grandchildren; 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, 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, Morriscene Watts Thomas 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 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that
the members of this body join in honoring the life and memory of Morriscene Watts Thomas
and express their deepest and most sincere regret at her passing.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the House of Representatives is authorized
and directed to make an appropriate copy of this resolution available for distribution to the
family of Morriscene Watts Thomas.
H. R. 20EX

## 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 House resolution honors the life of Morriscene Watts Thomas, an Atlanta educator and civil rights era community activist, and offers condolences to her family.

### Plain-language summary

This resolution is a formal statement from the Georgia House of Representatives honoring Morriscene Watts Thomas, who died after a life devoted to teaching and community work. It recounts her more than 26 years as an educator in the Atlanta Public School System, her participation in civil rights activities alongside Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, and her family and faith life.
The resolution does not change any Georgia law. It formally records the House's regret at her passing and directs the Clerk of the House to prepare a copy of the resolution for her family. This is a ceremonial measure rather than a policy change.

### What it does

- Formally expresses the House of Representatives' regret at the death of Morriscene Watts Thomas and honors her life and memory.
- Directs the Clerk of the House to prepare and distribute a copy of the resolution to her family.
- Creates no new law, funding, or penalty; it is a ceremonial tribute rather than a legislative policy change.

### Who it affects

This resolution directly affects the family of Morriscene Watts Thomas, who will receive an official copy, and stands as a formal record within the Georgia House of Representatives. It does not impose duties or effects on the general public.

### Why it matters

While the resolution carries no legal or financial effect, it gives official public recognition to a Georgia educator and community figure connected to the civil rights movement, and provides her family a formal record of that recognition from the state legislature.

### Key provisions

- The resolution recounts her birth, education career of over 26 years in the Atlanta Public School System, and civil rights activities.
- The resolving clause states the House joins in honoring her life and expressing regret at her passing.
- A further resolving clause directs the Clerk of the House to make a copy available for distribution to her family.

## Status

- Status: Passed (2026-06-20)
- Last action: House Read and Adopted (2026-06-20)
- Sponsors: Angela Moore
- Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/74868

> The history, votes, and amendments (131 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2026-special/hr20.md?full=1