07 LC 96
2383
House
Resolution 395
By:
Representatives Kaiser of the
59th,
Porter of the
143rd,
Epps of the
128th,
Burkhalter of the
50th,
Coleman of the
97th,
and others
A
RESOLUTION
Honoring
and remembering the life of Mrs. Juanita Wilda Kesler Cleland; and for other
purposes.
WHEREAS,
Mrs. Juanita Cleland was a woman of rare patience and compassion, a stellar
mother, and a model Georgian; and
WHEREAS,
she was known for her industriousness and for her willingness to put others
before herself, working patiently while her husband, Hugh Cleland, served in the
United States Navy during World War II and later worked as a traveling salesman;
and
WHEREAS,
when her home life needed her undivided attention, she left her job as a
personal secretary to spend more time with her son, Max; and
WHEREAS,
tragedy overtook the Cleland family on April 8, 1968, when Max suffered
devastating injuries from a grenade explosion while serving in the Vietnam War,
and, like many injured veterans, Max was thrown into a profound depression;
and
WHEREAS,
Max had the good fortune of having an extraordinary mother who not only refused
to let him slip away but went above and beyond the call of duty, tending the
worst of his mental and physical wounds; and
WHEREAS,
she was by his side when he was elected Georgia's youngest state senator in
1970, was named by President Jimmy Carter to head the Veterans Administration in
1977, was elected Georgia's Secretary of State in 1982, and served as a United
States Senator from 1997 to 2003; and
WHEREAS,
while Max spent 43 years in military and public service, Mrs. Cleland continued
to do whatever she could to help her son, developing the uncanny ability to
address his needs well before the thought had occurred to anyone else;
and
WHEREAS, in life she commanded the esteem of her fellow Georgians; at her death it is fitting and proper that we offer our sympathies to her family and friends; and
WHEREAS, in life she commanded the esteem of her fellow Georgians; at her death it is fitting and proper that we offer our sympathies to her family and friends; and
WHEREAS,
Georgia has lost one of its most distinguished citizens with the unfortunate
passing of Mrs. Juanita Cleland.
NOW,
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that the members of
this body join together to express their deepest regret at the passing of Mrs.
Juanita Wilda Kesler Cleland and extend their most sincere condolences to her
family.
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 Honorable
Max Cleland.