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Senate Resolution 599
By: Senators Orrock of the 36th, Butler of the 55th, Brass of the 28th, Jackson of the 41st,
Kirkpatrick of the 32nd and others
A RESOLUTION
Honoring the life and memory of Dr. Roland A. Pattillo; and for other purposes.
1
WHEREAS, the State of Georgia mourns the loss of one of its most distinguished citizens2
with the passing of Dr. Roland A. Pattillo on May 3, 2023; and3
WHEREAS, Dr. Roland A. Pattillo was born on June 12, 1933, in DeQuincy, Louisiana, a4
beloved son of James E. and Rhena Shaw Pattillo; and5
WHEREAS, he was Gynecologic Oncologist and Professor Emeritus in the Department of6
Obstetrics and Gynecology at the Morehouse School of Medicine and a noted gynecologic7
oncologist, professor, researcher, and author; and8
WHEREAS, he attended Xavier University in New Orleans and earned a medical degree9
from St. Louis University in 1959; completed a fellowship in Gynecologic Oncology at John10
Hopkins University in 1967; became the first African American faculty member at Marquette11
University's School of Medicine; served as vice chair of the department at the Medical12
College of Wisconsin; and, in 1995, relocated to Atlanta as Interim Chair of the Department13
of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Morehouse School of Medicine; and14
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WHEREAS, he trained as a fellow with George Gey, MD, who was known for culturing the
15
first immortalized cell line from a tissue sample during the treatment of Henrietta Lacks, a16
cervical cancer patient whose cells were harvested without her knowledge, which is17
chronicled in the best-selling book, The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks; and18
WHEREAS, much of his career and research were driven by his experience of Henrietta19
Lacks' suffering, and he was instrumental in creating the Annual HeLa Women's Health20
Conference at the Morehouse School of Medicine in honor of Henrietta Lacks; and21
WHEREAS, his expertise, which was sought worldwide, earned him a reputation as a trusted22
physician and colleague, and he was known as a doctor’s doctor because of his passion and23
compassion for performing surgeries throughout the world, often without compensation; and24
WHEREAS, he was united in love and marriage to his wife, Patricia, and was blessed with25
seven remarkable children, Catherine, Patrick, Sheri, Mary, Todd, Terence, and Bright; and26
eight wonderful grandchildren, Daniel, Carlos, Camille, David, Vann, Benjamin, Jahi, and27
Zoe; and28
WHEREAS, he gave inspiration to many through his high ideals, morals, and deep concern29
for his fellow citizens, and the devotion, patience, and understanding he demonstrated to his30
family and friends were admired by others; and31
WHEREAS, he was a person of magnanimous strengths with an unimpeachable reputation32
for integrity, intelligence, fairness, and kindness, and by the example he made of his life, he33
made this world a better place in which to live; and34
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WHEREAS, a compassionate and generous man, he will long be remembered for his love
35
of family, friendship, and community and will be missed by all who had the great fortune of36
knowing him.37
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE that the members of this body38
join in honoring the life and memory of Dr. Roland A. Pattillo and express their deepest and39
most sincere regret at his passing.40
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of the Senate is authorized and directed41
to make an appropriate copy of this resolution available for distribution to the family of Dr.42
Roland A. Pattillo.43
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