SR1039: SR1039 23rd Annual Juneteenth Celebration by the Daughters of Mary Magdalene; recognize; Sims, Melonie; commend

26 LC 129 1487 Senate Resolution 1039 By: Senator Mallow of the 2nd A RESOLUTION Recognizing the 23rd Annual Juneteenth Celebration by the Daughters of Mary Magdalene1 and commending Melonie Sims; and for other purposes.2 WHEREAS, Juneteenth commemorates the emancipation of enslaved African Americans and3 emphasizes cultural pride through events inspired by recollecti ons of our ancestors' and4 grandparents' struggles against slavery and segregation, and their fight for freedom, dignity,5 justice, and equality for generations to come; and 6 WHEREAS, the Daughters of Mary Magdalene is a nonprofit community organization that7 serves areas lacking economic, social, and cultural resources b y offering educational8 materials, mentoring, and oral history griots to motivate and help uplift people to reach their9 full potential; and 10 WHEREAS, the theme for this year's Juneteenth celebration is, "Rebuild, Reconstruct and11 Re-Educate!"; and 12 WHEREAS, one of the highlights of the Juneteenth celebration is the Honorees Program,13 which recognizes ordinary people who exemplify extraordinary character and dedicate their14 S. R. 1039 - 1 - 26 LC 129 1487 life's work to helping and benefitting children, young adults, and others throughout the15 community; and 16 WHEREAS, Melonie Sims is being recognized as a 2026 Juneteenth Celebration Honoree;17 and18 WHEREAS, Melonie is a Savannah native. She attended the public school system and is19 1985 graduate of Savannah High School. She later moved to Long Island, New York and20 earned certification as a nurses aid; and21 WHEREAS, Melonie finds her calling to be in service to her chur ch and community,22 originally as a member of St. John Divine Baptist Church where her daughter was baptized23 and she served as the Youth Choir leader; and 24 WHEREAS, currently Melonie is a member of Resurrection Pentecostal Temple where she25 sings in the choir, works with the kitchen ministry, serves as program announcer, presenter26 and reporter, and she also accompanies the Temple's Prophetess leader as she ministers to27 others throughout the city; and28 WHEREAS, Melonie considers the best jobs she's ever had to be m other to her daughter29 Nefra Payne, and grandmother to Elijah Payne; and30 WHEREAS, it is abundantly fitting and proper to recognize the D aughters of Mary31 Magdalene for presenting the longest-serving Juneteenth celebration in Savannah, of more32 than 23 years, and commend Melonie Sims as a 2026 Juneteenth Celebration Honoree.33 S. R. 1039 - 2 - 26 LC 129 1487 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE that the members of this body34 recognize and commend the Daughters of Mary Magdalene and Melonie Sims.35 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of the Senate is authorized and directed36 to make appropriate copies of this resolution available for distribution to the Daughters of37 Mary Magdalene and Melonie Sims.38 S. R. 1039 - 3 -