---
title: HR 27. Thomas, Morriscene Watts; condolences
collection: bills
id: 2026-special/hr27
cite_as: HR 27, 2026 Special Session (Ga.)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2026-special/hr27
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2026-special/hr27.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2026-special/hr27/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/74875
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/hr26.md
next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2026-special/hr28.md
index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md
omitted: votes and history
omitted_chars: 131
omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2026-special/hr27.md?full=1
bill_number: HR 27
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:
  - Terry Cummings
  - Robert Dawson
  - Billy Mitchell
  - Segun Adeyina
  - Angela Moore
  - Derrick Jackson
text_version: Introduced
has_text: true
legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/HR27/2026/X1
upstream_id: 2154369
summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5
topic_tags:
  - condolence resolution
  - Atlanta Public Schools
  - civil rights history
  - Georgia House of Representatives
---

# HR 27. Thomas, Morriscene Watts; condolences

## Text

House Resolution 27EX
By: Representatives Cummings of the 39th, Dawson of the 65th, Mitchell of the 88th, Adeyina
of the 110th, Moore of the 91st, and others
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. 27EX
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. 27EX

## 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, a longtime Atlanta Public Schools educator and civil rights era community figure, and expresses condolences to her family.

### Plain-language summary

This resolution is a formal tribute passed by the Georgia House of Representatives to honor Morriscene Watts Thomas after her death. It recounts her life, including her birth in Philadelphia in 1928, her more than 26 years as a teacher in the Atlanta Public School System, and her involvement in civil rights activities alongside Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference.
The resolution does not change any Georgia law. It formally states that House members join in honoring her memory and expressing sincere regret at her passing, and it directs the Clerk of the House to provide a copy of the resolution to her family.

### What it does

- Formally honors the life and memory of Morriscene Watts Thomas on behalf of the Georgia House of Representatives.
- Recounts her career as an educator of more than 26 years in the Atlanta Public School System and her civil rights community involvement.
- Directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to prepare and send a copy of the resolution to her family.
- Expresses the House's sincere regret at her passing without creating any new law, funding, or regulation.

### Who it affects

This resolution directly names the family of Morriscene Watts Thomas, including her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, who will receive a copy. It has no regulatory effect on other Georgians or institutions.

### Why it matters

While the resolution carries no legal or financial effect, it is an official public record from the Georgia House recognizing a private citizen's contributions to education and civil rights activism, providing her family with a formal, lasting tribute.

### Key provisions

- The resolution's whereas clauses detail her birth, family, decades-long teaching career, and civil rights involvement.
- The first resolving clause has House members join in honoring her memory and expressing regret at her passing.
- The second 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: Terry Cummings, Robert Dawson, Billy Mitchell, Segun Adeyina, Angela Moore, Derrick Jackson
- Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/74875

> The history, votes, and amendments (131 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2026-special/hr27.md?full=1