State Representative Eric Bell introduced House Resolution 1797 on Mar. 24, urging the renaming of Grady Memorial Hospital to Grady-Bell Memorial Hospital in honor of Dr. Roy Charles Bell, Sr., a dentist and civil rights leader who played a key role in desegregating healthcare in Georgia.
Bell said the resolution seeks to align one of Georgia’s most prominent public hospitals with values of equity, justice, and inclusion by recognizing Dr. Bell’s contributions. “As the state representative for District 75, I am proud to announce the introduction of House Resolution 1797, legislation to rename Grady Memorial Hospital as Grady–Bell Memorial Hospital, in honor of Dr. Roy Charles Bell Sr.—a trailblazing dentist and civil rights leader who helped desegregate healthcare in Georgia,” he said.
He described Dr. Bell as embodying courage and commitment to justice during an era when legal and social barriers denied Black patients dignity and care at many institutions. “Dr. Roy Charles Bell, Sr. represents the very best of Georgia—courage, conviction and a commitment to justice,” said Bell.
The hospital is currently named after Henry Grady, whom Bell described as having advocated for white supremacist ideals that contradict the mission of serving a diverse population: “The hospital is currently named after Henry Grady; a 19th century journalist whose legacy includes documented advocacy for white supremacist ideals and opposition to racial equality.”
Dr. Bell led efforts such as the landmark case “Bell v. Fulton-DeKalb Hospital Authority” in 1962 that resulted in desegregation at Grady Memorial Hospital—a precedent-setting event across Southern public hospitals—and took direct action against segregation during events like Atlanta’s Peyton Road Affair.
According to information about state legislators’ backgrounds as reported by Wikipedia, Burns was elected to represent Georgia’s 159th House District beginning in 2005.
Bell concluded his statement by emphasizing that renaming would preserve historic identity while reflecting progress: “This is not about erasing history—it’s about telling the full story… The resolution has been introduced this legislative session, and I look forward to working with my colleagues and the community to move this effort forward.”
