--- title: SR 11. Neal, Reverend Willie C.; recognize and commend collection: bills id: 2026-special/sr11 cite_as: SR 11, 2026 Special Session (Ga.) canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2026-special/sr11 md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2026-special/sr11.md text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2026-special/sr11/text source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/74880 date: 2026-06-23 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/sr10.md next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2026-special/sr12.md index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md omitted: votes and history omitted_chars: 94 omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2026-special/sr11.md?full=1 bill_number: SR 11 session: 2026 Special Session session_slug: 2026-special chamber: Senate bill_type: resolution status_date: 2026-06-23 last_action: Senate Read and Adopted sponsors: - Gail Davenport - Donzella James - Michael Rhett - Jaha Howard - Randal Mangham - Emanuel Jones text_version: Enrolled has_text: true legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/SR11/2026/X1 upstream_id: 2154470 summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5 topic_tags: - Georgia Senate resolution - religious leaders - Locust Grove - ceremonial recognition --- # SR 11. Neal, Reverend Willie C.; recognize and commend ## Text Senate Resolution 11EX By: Senators Davenport of the 17th, James of the 28th, Rhett of the 33rd, Howard of the 35th, Mangham of the 55th and others A RESOLUTION Recognizing and commending Reverend Willie C. Neal for his outstanding service; and for other purposes. WHEREAS, Reverend Willie C. Neal has long been recognized by the citizens of this state for the vital role he has played as a religious leader and his deep personal commitment to the welfare of the citizens of the State of Georgia; and WHEREAS, Rev. Neal was born in 1938 in Gay, Georgia, Meriweather County, to Rev. Marvin Neal and Mrs. Corrie C. Neal, and he attended the Meriwether County School System; and WHEREAS, in 1957, Rev. Neal married JoAnn Neal, and this union was blessed with seven children—in 1959, he moved his family to Atlanta and worked 24 years at Float Away Door Company and Miltech Compay in Decatur, Georgia; and WHEREAS, in 1956, he gave his life to the Lord and was called to preach; he served as Assistant Pastor at the Work House of Faith Baptist Church in Atlanta, Georgia, and Early Hope Baptist Church in Covington, Georgia; and S. R. 11EX WHEREAS, in 1987, Rev. Neal was called to Pastor Philadelphia Baptist Church in Locust Grove, Georgia, where he served as Senior Pastor for 34 years before retiring in 2021—under his pastorage and distinguished leadership, the church has flourished, including eight deacons ordained, the organization of the mass choir, women's department, God's Creation Dance Team, a newly established church college fund for young people attending college, the purchasing of two vans, and land for new sanctuary purchased and new edifice built in October 2007; and WHEREAS, it is abundantly fitting and proper to recognize the outstanding accomplishments of the dynamic Christian ministry of this devout and pious man. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE that the members of this body recognize and commend Reverend Willie C. Neal for his many remarkable contributions on behalf of his fellow citizens and extend best wishes for many more years of successful fellowship and leadership. 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 Reverend Willie C. Neal. S. R. 11EX ## 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 formally recognizes and commends Reverend Willie C. Neal, a longtime pastor in Locust Grove, for his decades of religious leadership. ### Plain-language summary This is a ceremonial resolution from the Georgia Senate honoring Reverend Willie C. Neal, a pastor who led Philadelphia Baptist Church in Locust Grove for 34 years before retiring in 2021. The resolution recounts his life story, including his birth in Meriwether County in 1938, his years working at Atlanta-area manufacturing companies, and his decades of ministry, including growth at the church such as new deacons, a choir, a dance team, and a new sanctuary built in 2007. The resolution does not change any Georgia law. It simply states the Senate's recognition and commendation of Rev. Neal's service and directs the Secretary of the Senate to provide him with a copy of the resolution as a keepsake. ### What it does - Formally recognizes and commends Reverend Willie C. Neal for his religious leadership and community service. - Recounts his biography, including his birth, family, career, and decades as pastor of Philadelphia Baptist Church. - Directs the Secretary of the Senate to prepare and distribute a copy of the resolution to Rev. Neal. - Creates no new law, funding, or regulation; it is a symbolic honor only. ### Who it affects The resolution directly names and honors Reverend Willie C. Neal and, by extension, the congregation of Philadelphia Baptist Church in Locust Grove, Georgia, and his family. It has no legal effect on any other Georgians. ### Why it matters This resolution has no practical impact on Georgia law or residents beyond honoring one individual. It matters mainly as a public, official acknowledgment by the Georgia Senate of a local religious leader's decades of community and church service. ### Key provisions - The resolution's whereas clauses detail Rev. Neal's birth in 1938 in Gay, Georgia, his marriage, family, and secular career at Float Away Door Company and Miltech Company. - It describes his religious calling in 1956 and his service as assistant pastor before becoming Senior Pastor of Philadelphia Baptist Church in 1987. - The resolved clause states the Senate's recognition and commendation and extends best wishes for continued fellowship and leadership. - A further resolved clause directs the Secretary of the Senate to make a copy available for distribution to Rev. Neal. ## Status - Status: Passed (2026-06-23) - Last action: Senate Read and Adopted (2026-06-23) - Sponsors: Gail Davenport, Donzella James, Michael Rhett, Jaha Howard, Randal Mangham, Emanuel Jones - Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/74880 > The history, votes, and amendments (94 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2026-special/sr11.md?full=1