ENROLLED
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 AND
SENATORS ALARIO, ALLAIN, APPEL, BARROW, BISHOP, BOUDREAUX,
BROWN, CARTER, CHABERT, CLAITOR, COLOMB, CORTEZ, DONAHUE,
ERDEY, FANNIN, GATTI, HEWITT, JOHNS, LAFLEUR, LAMBERT, LONG,
LUNEAU, MARTINY, MILKOVICH, MILLS, MIZELL, MORRELL, MORRISH,
PEACOCK, PERRY, PETERSON, RISER, GARY SMITH, JOHN SMITH,
TARVER, THOMPSON, WALSWORTH, WARD, AND WHITE
A CONCURRENT RESOL UTION
To express the sincere and heartfelt condolences of the Legislature of Louisiana upon the
death of state representative Rodnette "Ronnie" Bethley Edwards.
WHEREAS, it was with deep regret and profound sorrow that the members of the
Legislature of Louisiana learned of the death of their colleague and dear friend, Ronnie
Edwards, on Wednesday, February 24, 2016, at the age of sixty-three, after a courageous
battle with pancreatic cancer; and
WHEREAS, Ronnie Edwards was a native of Woodville, Mississippi, and a resident
of Baton Rouge; and
WHEREAS, Ronnie Edwards was an esteemed public servant who left an indelible
mark on the lives of the citizens of House District 29, which encompasses East Baton Rouge
and West Baton Rouge; and
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WHEREAS, prior to her election to the House of Representatives, Ms. Edwards
served with great passion on the Baton Rouge Metro Council for six years; and
WHEREAS, she became an advocate of healthy living initiatives and cancer
screenings; and
WHEREAS, Ms. Edwards was well known for her passion for affordable housing;
she worked for the Urban Restoration Enhancement Corporation; and
WHEREAS, on Monday, January 11, 2016, Ms. Edwards was sworn in to the House
of Representatives; she was assigned to serve as a member of the House Committee on
Health and Welfare, the House Committee on Municipal, Parochial and Cultural Affairs, and
the House Committee on Transportation, Highways and Public Works; and
WHEREAS, she was a member of the Acadiana Delegation, the Capital Region
Legislative Delegation, the Democratic Caucus, the Louisiana Legislative Black Caucus, and
the Louisiana Legislative Women's Caucus; and
WHEREAS, Representative Edwards will forever be respected and remembered for
her commitment to the citizens of Louisiana, for her compassion, for her generosity, her
contagious smile, and for the fierce determination with which she fought to bring her
innovative ideas to life for the betterment of all Louisianians; and
WHEREAS, Representative Edwards is survived by her loving husband, Oliver G.
Edwards; her mother, Gladys D. Hammond; her children, Chanel Gené Edwards Ward and
Cody Jerome Edwards; her stepchildren, Oliver G. Edwards, Jr., and Tammy Edwards; her
grandchildren, Autumn Edwards, Prince Edwards, Heaven Edwards, and Israel Edwards; her
step grandchildren, Tiara Edwards and Jada Edwards; her step great-grandchild, Amaya
Anderson; and her brother, Derek Maurice Bethley; and numerous relatives and friends; and
WHEREAS, Representative Edwards was preceded in death by her father, James
Bethley, and her grandparents, Reverend George L. Davis and Hester Jane Walker Davis;
and
WHEREAS, it is the desire of the Legislature of Louisiana to take proper notice of
Representative Edwards' accomplishments and to express the immense pride of the people
of the state in this beloved individual; and
WHEREAS, the death of Representative Edwards has left a tremendous void in her
community and has created a genuine sense of sorrow in the many citizens whose lives she
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touched, including the Legislature of Louisiana, who mourn the loss of this extraordinary
woman who served her state and community so well and passionately.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
express sincere and heartfelt condolences upon the death of state representative Rodnette
"Ronnie" Bethley Edwards; does hereby recognize that her legacy of dedicated public
service shall forever endure; and does hereby record for posterity the abiding appreciation
of the citizens of Louisiana for her extraordinary contributions and achievements.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a suitable copy of this Resolution be transmitted
to the family of Ronnie Edwards.
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
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