HLS 161ES-414 ORIGINAL
2016 First Extraordinary Session
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOL UTION NO. 9
BY REPRESENTATIVES BARRAS, ABRAHAM, ABRAMSON, ADAMS, AMEDEE,
ANDERS, ARMES, BACALA, BAGLEY, BAGNERIS, BERTHELOT, BILLIOT,
BISHOP, BOUIE, BROADWATER, CHAD BROWN, TERRY BROWN,
CARMODY, CARPENTER, GARY CARTER, ROBBY CARTER, STEVE
CARTER, CHANEY, CONNICK, COUSSAN, COX, CROMER, DANAHAY,
DAVIS, DEVILLIER, DWIGHT, EDMONDS, EMERSON, FALCONER, FOIL,
FRANKLIN, GAINES, GAROFALO, GISCLAIR, GLOVER, GUINN, HALL,
JIMMY HARRIS, LANCE HARRIS, HAVARD, HAZEL, HENRY, HENSGENS,
HILFERTY, HILL, HODGES, HOFFMANN, HOLLIS, HORTON, HOWARD,
HUNTER, HUVAL, IVEY, JACKSON, JAMES, JEFFERSON, JENKINS, MIKE
JOHNSON, ROBERT JOHNSON, JONES, NANCY LANDRY, TERRY LANDRY,
LEBAS, LEGER, LEOPOLD, LOPINTO, LYONS, MACK, MAGEE, MARCELLE,
MCFARLAND, MIGUEZ, DUSTIN MILLER, GREGORY MILLER,
MONTOUCET, MORENO, JAY MORRIS, JIM MORRIS, NORTON, PEARSON,
PIERRE, POPE, PRICE, PUGH, PYLANT, REYNOLDS, RICHARD,
SCHEXNAYDER, SCHRODER, SEABAUGH, SHADOIN, SIMON, SMITH,
STOKES, TALBOT, THIBAUT, WHITE, WILLMOTT, AND ZERINGUE
CONDOLENCES: Expresses condolences upon the death of state representative Rodnette
"Ronnie" Bethley Edwards
1 A CONCURRENT RESOL UTION
2To express the sincere and heartfelt condolences of the Legislature of Louisiana upon the
3 death of state representative Rodnette "Ronnie" Bethley Edwards.
4 WHEREAS, it was with deep regret and profound sorrow that the members of the
5Legislature of Louisiana learned of the death of their colleague and dear friend, Ronnie
6Edwards, on Wednesday, February 24, 2016, at the age of sixty-three, after a courageous
7battle with pancreatic cancer; and
8 WHEREAS, Ronnie Edwards was a native of Woodville, Mississippi, and a resident
9of Baton Rouge; and
10 WHEREAS, Ronnie Edwards was an esteemed public servant who left an indelible
11mark on the lives of the citizens of House District 29, which encompasses East Baton Rouge
12and West Baton Rouge; and
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HCR NO. 9
1 WHEREAS, prior to her election to the House of Representatives, Ms. Edwards
2served with great passion on the Baton Rouge Metro Council for six years; and
3 WHEREAS, she became an advocate of healthy living initiatives and cancer
4screenings; and
5 WHEREAS, Ms. Edwards was well known for her passion for affordable housing;
6she worked for the Urban Restoration Enhancement Corporation; and
7 WHEREAS, on Monday, January 11, 2016, Ms. Edwards was sworn in to the House
8of Representatives; she was assigned to serve as a member of the House Committee on
9Health and Welfare, the House Committee on Municipal, Parochial and Cultural Affairs, and
10the House Committee on Transportation, Highways and Public Works; and
11 WHEREAS, she was a member of the Acadiana Delegation, the Capital Region
12Legislative Delegation, the Democratic Caucus, the Louisiana Legislative Black Caucus, and
13the Louisiana Legislative Women's Caucus; and
14 WHEREAS, Representative Edwards will forever be respected and remembered for
15her commitment to the citizens of Louisiana, for her compassion, for her generosity, her
16contagious smile, and for the fierce determination with which she fought to bring her
17innovative ideas to life for the betterment of all Louisianians; and
18 WHEREAS, Representative Edwards is survived by her loving husband, Oliver G.
19Edwards; her mother, Gladys D. Hammond; her children, Chanel Gené Edwards Ward and
20Cody Jerome Edwards; her step children, Oliver G. Edwards, Jr., and Tammy Edwards; her
21grandchildren, Autumn Edwards, Prince Edwards, Heaven Edwards, and Israel Edwards; her
22step grandchildren, Tiara Edwards and Jada Edwards; her step great-grandchild, Amaya
23Anderson; and her brother, Derek Maurice Bethley; and numerous relatives and friends; and
24 WHEREAS, Representative Edwards was preceded in death by her father, James
25Bethley, and her grandparents, Reverend George L. Davis and Hester Jane Walker Davis;
26and
27 WHEREAS, it is the desire of the Legislature of Louisiana to take proper notice of
28Representative Edwards' accomplishments and to express the immense pride of the people
29of the state in this beloved individual; and
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HCR NO. 9
1 WHEREAS, the death of Representative Edwards has left a tremendous void in her
2community and has created a genuine sense of sorrow in the many citizens whose lives she
3touched, including the Legislature of Louisiana, who mourn the loss of this extraordinary
4woman who served her state and community so well and passionately.
5 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
6express sincere and heartfelt condolences upon the death of state representative Rodnette
7"Ronnie" Bethley Edwards; does hereby recognize that her legacy of dedicated public
8service shall forever endure; and does hereby record for posterity the abiding appreciation
9of the citizens of Louisiana for her extraordinary contributions and achievements.
10 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a suitable copy of this Resolution be transmitted
11to the family of Ronnie Edwards.
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
HCR 9 Original 2016 First Extraordinary Session Barras
Expresses condolences upon the death of state representative Rodnette "Ronnie" Bethley
Edwards.
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