08 LC 95
0618
Senate
Resolution 1087
By:
Senators Tate of the 38th, Brown of the 26th, Davenport of the 44th, Hooks of
the 14th, Fort of the 39th and others
A
RESOLUTION
Expressing
regret at the passing of Lithangia Shannell Robinson; and for other
purposes.
WHEREAS,
on February 27, 2008, the State of Georgia lost one of its finest and most
distinguished citizen advocates, Lithangia Shannell Robinson; and
WHEREAS,
she served her community tirelessly as a volunteer and an educator for 31 years;
and
WHEREAS,
she grew up in a time when many women did not attend college, yet she graduated
from Clark College in Atlanta and received a master's degree from Atlanta
University; and
WHEREAS,
she continued her affiliation with Clark College and Atlanta University, serving
on the steering committee to consolidate the two, as well as continuing to serve
on the Clark-Atlanta University Guild; and
WHEREAS,
she was a woman of leadership in education, serving as president-elect of the
Association of Classroom Teachers from 1967 through 1969 and as president from
1969 through 1971, as well as serving on numerous committees, later becoming
president of the Georgia Association of Educators and continuing to lead as
president of the Georgia Association of Retired Educators from 1991 through 1994
and thereafter as a board member; and
WHEREAS,
her leadership skills included serving as a United States delegate for the
National Education Association to the World Confederation of the Teaching
Profession meeting held in Nigeria, Africa, in 1977; and
WHEREAS,
she was a leader in her local community, as demonstrated by her appointment by
then Mayor Maynard Jackson to the Community Relations Commission from 1992
through 1994, her participation in the Brown Field Airport Steering Committee,
her service to the Grady Health System on its Senior Advisory Board, as well as
her consistent advocacy with Fulton County for programs and services for older
adults, including as a member of the Fulton County Council on Aging,
participating in the planning and implementation of the building of the Harriett
G. Darnell Senior Multipurpose Facility for which she served on the board as a
member and as vice chair; and
WHEREAS,
she provided guidance to state government through her advocacy efforts, serving
on the Georgia Council on Aging since 1994, advocating with members of the
General Assembly, and advising the Georgia Department of Human Resources and
other state agencies about the concerns of older Georgians because she felt that
"people need to see us as more than just old, crabby retirees. We need to be
heard on the important issues"; and
WHEREAS,
she was a dedicated servant of her church, St. Paul of the Cross Catholic
Church, teaching religious education classes, serving as secretary,
parliamentarian, and representing her parish at numerous religious conventions;
and
WHEREAS,
she was a steadfast member of the Democratic Party of Georgia, serving on its
Executive Committee for a number of years, and was recognized by then Secretary
of State Max Cleland for Outstanding Accomplishment in Voter Registration of
Georgia Residents; and
WHEREAS,
she was recognized for her work by many organizations, including the Human
Relations Award from the Southeast Regional Association of Classroom Teachers
(1980), Volunteer of the Year Award from then Governor Joe Frank Harris (1984),
Meritorious Service Award from the American Association of Retired Persons
(1991), the Distinguished Alumni Award from the National Association for Equal
Opportunity in Higher Education (1994), Outstanding Citizen of Georgia Award
from then Secretary of State Lewis Massey (1996), Trailblazer Award from St.
Paul of the Cross Catholic Church (1999), Senior of the Year 2001 from the
Fulton County Human Services Department Office of Aging, National Education
Association Retired Distinguished Service Award (2001), Georgia Gerontology
Society Certificate of Merit (2001) and the John Tyler Mauldin Award (2005),
Georgia's Legacy - Older Women Award from the Georgia Commission on Women
(2004), Father H.C. Boudin Award from the Older Atlanta Task Force (2004), and
Woman of Distinction by African-American Heritage Preservation Cultural Complex;
and
WHEREAS, she exemplified the saying she often quoted, "service is the rent we pay for our time on earth"; and
WHEREAS, she exemplified the saying she often quoted, "service is the rent we pay for our time on earth"; and
WHEREAS,
this pioneering African American woman of distinction who led by service to
others has made the City of Atlanta, the County of Fulton, and the State of
Georgia a better place for us all; and
WHEREAS,
her friends and family will deeply feel her absence in their daily
lives.
NOW,
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE that the members of this body express
their deepest and most sincere regret at the passing of Lithangia Shannell
Robinson.
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 Lithangia Shannell Robinson.