24 LC 39 4271
House Resolution 1253
By: Representatives Gilliard of the 162
nd
, Stephens of the 164
th
, Jackson of the 165
th
, and
Westbrook of the 163
rd
A RESOLUTION
Honoring the lives of Rev. Dr. Hosea L. Williams and Rep. Juanita T. Williams and
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dedicating an interchange in their memory; and for other purposes.2
WHEREAS, Rev. Dr. Hosea L. Williams and Rep. Juanita T. Williams have long been3
recognized by the citizens of this state for the vital roles that they have played in leadership4
and their deep personal commitment to the welfare of the citizens of Georgia; and5
WHEREAS, Rev. Dr. Hosea L. Williams was a renowned civil rights leader whose work 6
was crucial in achieving one of the civil rights movement's greatest accomplishments, the7
passage of the 1964 Civil Rights Bill and the 1965 Voting Rights Act; and8
WHEREAS, born on January 5, 1926, Rev. Dr. Williams was orphaned at the age of ten after9
his blind mother passed away, yet he went on to earn a bachelor's degree in chemistry from10
Morris Brown College, earn a Purple Heart for his heroic service during World War II, and11
become a renowned research chemist with the United States Department of Agriculture; and12
WHEREAS, Rep. Juanita Williams graduated third in her class at Savannah State College13
an earned a master's degree from Atlanta University; and14
H. R. 1253
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WHEREAS, she was elected to the Georgia House of Representatives in 1984 and diligently
15
and conscientiously devoted innumerable hours of her time, talents, and energy toward the16
betterment of her community and state for four terms; and17
WHEREAS, following the teachings of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., to "clothe the naked and18
feed the hungry," Rev. Dr. and Rep. Williams founded the Hosea Feed the Hungry and19
Homeless aid organization in 1970, which is currently the largest direct-to-client food service20
organization in the Southeast and a provider of medical and educational aid in Haiti and21
Philippines; and22
WHEREAS, it is abundantly fitting and proper that these remarkable and distinguished23
Georgians be appropriately recognized by dedicating an interchange in their memory.24
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED AND ENACTED BY THE GENERAL25
ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA that the interchange of State Route 405 and State Route 204 in26
Chatham County is dedicated as the Rev. Dr. Hosea Williams and Rep. Juanita T. Williams27
Memorial Interchange.28
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Transportation is authorized and29
directed to erect and maintain appropriate signs dedicating the Rev. Dr. Hosea Williams and30
Rep. Juanita T. Williams Memorial Interchange.31
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the House of Representatives is authorized32
and directed to make appropriate copies of this resolution available for distribution to the33
family of Rev. Dr. Hosea Williams and Rep. Juanita T. Williams and to the Department of34
Transportation.35
H. R. 1253
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