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     Senate Resolution 7EX
     By: Senator Orrock of the 36th
                               A RESOLUTION
1 Recognizing and commending the life and memory of David S. Simpson; and for other
2 purposes.
3 WHEREAS, the members of the Senate are saddened to learn of the passing of David S.
4 Simpson on April 3, 2026, a man whose intelligence, wit, courage, and unwavering
5 dedication to community left an indelible mark upon the State of Georgia; and
6 WHEREAS, born in 1945 in the Normaltown neighborhood of Athens, Georgia, David S.
7 Simpson was the eldest son of Dr. Hazel Deal Simpson and David S. "Dee" Simpson and
8 exhibited from an early age the independent spirit, keen intellect, and curiosity that would
9 define his remarkable life; and
10 WHEREAS, at the age of 18, he honorably served his nation in the United States Navy as
11 a courier stationed in Washington, D.C., demonstrating his commitment to public service and
12 civic duty before returning home to Georgia; and
13 WHEREAS, as a student at the University of Georgia, he became a prominent voice for
14 student rights and civic engagement, helping shape discussions surrounding freedom of
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15 expression, political participation, and social justice during a pivotal period in our nation's
16 history; and
17 WHEREAS, throughout his life, he remained steadfast in his commitment to civil rights,
18 grassroots organizing, voting rights, and social equity, lending his talents and leadership to
19 organizations including Students for a Democratic Society, the Southern Student Organizing
20 Committee, and the Southern Conference Educational Fund; and
21 WHEREAS, his efforts contributed to meaningful conversations and actions that sought to
22 expand opportunity, strengthen communities, and promote justice throughout Georgia and
23 the South; and
24 WHEREAS, after making Atlanta his home, David S. Simpson became one of the most
25 recognizable and beloved figures in the Little Five Points community, where he dedicated
26 decades of service to local businesses, neighborhood organizations, public safety initiatives,
27 cultural events, and civic life; and
28 WHEREAS, in 1988, together with his family, he helped establish the Coyote Trading
29 Company, a treasured Little Five Points institution known for celebrating Native American
30 art, craftsmanship, and culture, which continues to serve the community today as Turtle
31 Trading Company; and
32 WHEREAS, affectionately known by many as "The Sheriff of Little Five Points," "The
33 Mayor of Little Five Points," and later the self-appointed "Ambassador to Little Five Points,"
34 he played a vital role in revitalizing the Little Five Points Halloween Festival, served as Vice
35 President of the Little Five Points Business Association, helped establish the Little Five
36 Points Police Patrol, and worked tirelessly to strengthen the community he loved; and
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37 WHEREAS, beyond his public accomplishments, David S. Simpson will be remembered for
38 his generosity, loyalty, compassion, sharp wit, and extraordinary ability to bring people
39 together in friendship, laughter, and fellowship; and
40 WHEREAS, although words alone cannot fully convey the profound loss felt by those who
41 knew and loved him, the legacy of David S. Simpson will endure through the lives he
42 touched, the causes he championed, and the community he helped build.
43 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE that the members of this body
44 recognize and commend the life and memory of David S. Simpson and express their deepest
45 sympathy to his family, friends, and all those who were blessed to know him.
46 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of the Senate is authorized and directed
47 to make an appropriate copy of this resolution available for distribution to the family of
48 David S. Simpson.
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