| 1 | 1 | | 25 LC 39 4787 |
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| 2 | 2 | | House Resolution 811 |
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| 3 | 3 | | By: Representative Gilliard of the 162 |
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| 4 | 4 | | nd |
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| 5 | 5 | | |
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| 6 | 6 | | A RESOLUTION |
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| 7 | 7 | | Recognizing the life of Reverend Dr. Bennie R. Mitchell, Jr., and dedicating a bridge in his |
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| 8 | 8 | | 1 |
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| 9 | 9 | | memory; and for other purposes.2 |
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| 10 | 10 | | WHEREAS, Reverend Dr. Bennie R. Mitchell, Jr., demonstrated his commitment to teaching3 |
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| 11 | 11 | | the Gospel, witnessing Christ through word and deed, and addressing the physical,4 |
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| 12 | 12 | | psychological, intellectual, and spiritual needs of others; and5 |
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| 13 | 13 | | WHEREAS, Reverend Mitchell was born in Edgefield, South Carolina, and earned a6 |
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| 14 | 14 | | bachelor's degree from Benedict College and a master of divinity degree from the7 |
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| 15 | 15 | | Interdenominational Theological Center at Morehouse School of Religion; and8 |
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| 16 | 16 | | WHEREAS, Reverend Mitchell served as pastor of Rockhill Baptist Church in Saluda, South9 |
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| 17 | 17 | | Carolina, before being called by the Lord in 1974 to lead the congregation of Connor's10 |
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| 18 | 18 | | Temple Baptist Church in Savannah, Georgia; and11 |
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| 19 | 19 | | WHEREAS, his vision and direction helped Connor's Temple Baptist Church grow in size12 |
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| 20 | 20 | | and influence, uplifting the community like the light of Bethlehem and serving as a spiritual13 |
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| 21 | 21 | | leader and place for fellowship; and14 |
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| 22 | 22 | | H. R. 811 |
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| 23 | 23 | | - 1 - 25 LC 39 4787 |
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| 24 | 24 | | WHEREAS, during his over five decades of leadership at Connor's Temple Baptist Church, |
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| 25 | 25 | | 15 |
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| 26 | 26 | | Reverend Mitchell spearheaded the purchase and renovation of the historic McKelvy-Powell16 |
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| 27 | 27 | | Building to serve as a community hub and as a positive symbol of change and community17 |
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| 28 | 28 | | activism; and18 |
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| 29 | 29 | | WHEREAS, Reverend Mitchell's work was honored with numerous awards and accolades,19 |
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| 30 | 30 | | including Omega Man of the Year, the Ivan Allen, Jr. Award for Excellence in Human20 |
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| 31 | 31 | | Relations, a WSOK Image Award, and a Fannie Lou Hamer Award; and21 |
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| 32 | 32 | | WHEREAS, is abundantly fitting and proper that this remarkable and distinguished Georgian22 |
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| 33 | 33 | | be recognized appropriately by dedicating a bridge in his memory.23 |
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| 34 | 34 | | NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED AND ENACTED BY THE GENERAL24 |
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| 35 | 35 | | ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA that the bridge on State Route 405 over State Route 204 in25 |
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| 36 | 36 | | Chatham County is dedicated as the Rev. Dr. Bennie R. Mitchell, Jr. Memorial Bridge.26 |
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| 37 | 37 | | BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Transportation is authorized and27 |
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| 38 | 38 | | directed to erect and maintain appropriate signs dedicating the Rev. Dr. Bennie R. Mitchell,28 |
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| 39 | 39 | | Jr. Memorial Bridge.29 |
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| 40 | 40 | | BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the House of Representatives is authorized30 |
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| 41 | 41 | | and directed to make appropriate copies of this resolution available for distribution to the31 |
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| 42 | 42 | | family of Reverend Dr. Bennie R. Mitchell, Jr., and to the Department of Transportation.32 |
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| 43 | 43 | | H. R. 811 |
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| 44 | 44 | | - 2 - |
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