06 LC 18
5333
House
Resolution 1527
By:
Representatives Coleman of the
144th,
Walker of the
107th,
Burkhalter of the
50th,
Keen of the
179th,
Stanley-Turner of the
53rd,
and others
A
RESOLUTION
Honoring
and remembering Martha Talbot Eaves; and for other purposes.
WHEREAS,
Martha Talbot Eaves was born in Atlanta on January 16, 1917, and has a long
history of advocacy beginning with her introduction to organized labor by her
grandfather who founded what is known today as the International Association of
Machinists and Aerospace Workers; and
WHEREAS,
at the age of 44, Ms. Eaves entered Georgia State University and graduated at 50
with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English literature; and
WHEREAS,
after Ms. Eaves retired in 1978, her tireless advocacy on behalf of Georgia's
seniors began; and
WHEREAS,
she served on and acted in leadership roles for numerous councils, committees,
and task forces, and was a long-time member and former chair of the Georgia
Council on Aging, delegate to the 1995 White House Conference on Aging and named
by Governor Perdue to be a delegate to the 2005 White House Conference on Aging,
and member of the Long-Term Care Study Commission and the Senate Elder Abuse
Task Force, among others; and
WHEREAS,
Ms. Eaves was recognized by state and national organizations for her advocacy
including the Elder Rights and Advocacy Award for the Elder Law Committee of the
State Bar of Georgia, the Tom Murphy State Services Award for Human Services and
Health Care in 2002, the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and
Medicare Salute to Leaders in Aging Award in 2004, and the Georgia Commission on
Women Georgia's Legacy—Older Women Recognition in 2005; and
WHEREAS,
the Georgia Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program created "The Martha Eaves Award" in
2000 to recognize the extraordinary efforts of Martha, its first recipient, and
other advocates for long-term care residents; and
WHEREAS,
Ms. Eaves was an unblinking presence at every budget conference committee
meeting, even those lasting into the early morning, and was a stickler for
fairness and honesty in testimony as well as informal conversations with
legislators and policy makers, often reminding everyone that "all we have is our
integrity"; and
WHEREAS,
Ms. Eaves died August 13, 2005, at her home in Conyers after a brief illness and
leaves as her legacy an unflagging commitment to advocacy; and
WHEREAS,
in her effectiveness as a lobbyist on issues affecting the elderly she became,
in effect, the "face of the elderly" by simply showing up.
NOW,
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that the members of
this body express their deepest and most profound regret at the passing of Ms.
Martha Talbot Eaves and recognize and commend her as the Distinguished Senior
Georgian for 2006.
BE
IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the House of Representatives is authorized
and directed to transmit an appropriate copy of this resolution to the family of
Ms. Martha Talbot Eaves.