SR679: SR679 Bishop William "Bill" Harris Day; recognize February 17, 2026

26 LC 129 0808 Senate Resolution 679 By: Senators Jones of the 10th, Jackson of the 41st, Kemp of th e 38th, Wicks of the 34th, Mangham of the 55th and others A RESOLUTION Honoring the life and memory of Bishop William "Bill" Harris and recognizing February 17,1 2026, as Bishop William "Bill" Harris Day; and for other purposes.2 WHEREAS, the State of Georgia mourns the loss of one of its most distinguished citizens3 with the passing of Bishop William "Bill" Harris on December 9, 2025; and4 WHEREAS, Bishop William "Bill" Harris was born on February 1, 1 943, in Albany,5 Georgia, a beloved son, husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, community leader,6 and civil rights activist; and7 WHEREAS, a man of deep and abiding faith, Bishop William Harris was called to ministry8 in 1977 and is the founder and retired pastor of Bethel Church Ministries, Inc., in Monroe,9 Georgia; and10 WHEREAS, he served as Dean of Ministers for the Northern Dioces e for nine years, was11 appointed State Evangelist for the Northern Diocese Churches of Our Lord Jesus Christ in12 1993, and was appointed as Chaplain for the Regional 7th District of Alabama and Georgia13 for the Churches of Our Lord Jesus Christ of the Apostolic Faith, Inc; and 14 S. R. 679 - 1 - 26 LC 129 0808 WHEREAS, Bishop Harris also served as a field worker for the St udent Non-violent15 Coordinating Committee (SNCC), the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC),16 and was a founding member of the Atlanta SCLC chapter; and17 WHEREAS, at the height of the Civil Rights Movement in the 1960s, Bishop Harris worked18 with and marched alongside his friends and fellow civil rights family, the late Dr. Martin19 Luther King, Jr., Congressman John Lewis, Hosea Williams, Rev. Ralph D. Abernathy, and20 other pioneers of the Civil Rights Movement; and21 WHEREAS, Bishop Harris is intimately familiar with the struggles, suffering, and injustices22 endured by the African American people during the 1960s, as he himself was beaten and23 jailed and had police dogs attack him during the protests; and24 WHEREAS, he was an original member of The Freedom singers for justice, and went into25 cities before rallies and marches to inspire protesters and workers through song; and26 WHEREAS, he was instrumental in the Mississippi March, participated in the Moore’s Ford27 Bridge March, and stood alongside his good friend Rev. Hosea Wi lliams when he led the28 protests in Bishop Harris’s hometown of, Albany, Georgia, to organize the voter registration29 and desegregation efforts; and30 WHEREAS, Bishop Harris is one of the co-founders of the Veterans Civil Rights Movement31 Organization SCLC Atlanta affiliated chapter and was the Chapli n for The Georgia32 Conference of African American Mayors; and33 WHEREAS, in the late 60s and early 70s Bishop Harris was a recording artist with Emory34 and The Dynamics, and performed and toured with such artists as J e r r y B u t l e r , J a c k i e35 S. R. 679 - 2 - 26 LC 129 0808 Wilson, Curtis Mayfield, The Impressions, David Ruffin, Little Richard , The Temptations,36 Mitty Collier, The Jackson 5, and many others; and37 WHEREAS, up until his earthly transition, Bishop Harris continu ed to travel around the38 country speaking to the younger generations, educating them on the history of the civil rights39 movement and participating in local protests and civil rights activities.40 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE that the members of this body41 join in honoring the life and memory of Bishop William "Bill" Harris; recognize February42 17, 2026, as Bishop William "Bill" Harris Day; and express their deepest and most sincere43 regret at his passing.44 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of the Senate is authorized and directed45 to make an appropriate copy of this resolution available for di stribution to the family of46 Bishop William "Bill" Harris.47 S. R. 679 - 3 -