09 LC 94
0106
House
Resolution 83
By:
Representatives Brooks of the
63rd,
Williams of the
165th,
Abdul-Salaam of the
74th,
Benfield of the
85th,
and Mangham of the
94th
A
RESOLUTION
Honoring
the life and memory of Reverend James L. Bevel; and for other
purposes.
WHEREAS,
the State of Georgia mourns the passing of the charismatic and influential
Reverend James L. Bevel on December 19, 2008; and
WHEREAS,
Reverend Bevel was born on October 19, 1936, in Itta Bena, Mississippi, one of
17 children; and
WHEREAS,
as a teenager, Reverend Bevel worked in the steel mills of Cleveland, Ohio, and
appeared to be headed towards a career in pop music, when he was called to the
ministry; and
WHEREAS,
Reverend Bevel enrolled in the American Baptist Theological Seminary in
Nashville, Tennessee, where he also joined the local chapter of the Southern
Christian Leadership Conference; and
WHEREAS,
Reverend Bevel was known for his great contributions to the civil rights
movement as an adviser to Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr., persuading the
leader to allow children to participate in antisegregation demonstrations;
and
WHEREAS,
known for his eloquently quick-witted vernacular, Reverend Bevel was also a loud
opponent of the United States involvement in Vietnam and was instrumental in Dr.
King's views opposing the war; and
WHEREAS,
this influential leader will long be remembered for his pivotal role in the
American Civil Rights Movement and his influence and counsel for Dr. Martin
Luther King, Jr.
NOW,
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that this body hereby
joins in honoring the life and memory of Reverend James L. Bevel and expressing
its appreciation of his many contributions to the American Civil Rights
Movement.
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 Reverend
Bevel's family.