The House adopted Senate Resolution 8, legislation that will dedicate several roads in the state, including State Route 49 from the Milledgeville Bypass State Route 29/U.S. 441 to the Macon Bibb County line in Baldwin County to be named as the Latasha R.
Butts Memorial Highway. Butts died Oct. 23, 2023, of advancedstage breast cancer.
She graduated from Baldwin High School in 2000, and was named a consensus All-American and awarded the Georgia Gatorade Player of the Year. Butts remains the all-time leading scorer for the Baldwin High Bravettes, and the school retired her jersey in December 2000.
“I am grateful to the House for adopting SR 8, which would honor the incredible contributions of Georgians from across our state, notably, Ms. Latasha R. Butts, a native of Milledgeville,” said State Representative Floyd Griffin. “Ms.
Butts was a standout basketball player at the University of Tennessee, where she contributed to four Southeastern Conference championships before being drafted by the Minnesota Lynx.
During her time in the WNBA, she played in 30 games, helping the team secure a franchise-record 18 victories and a playoff appearance. Beyond her playing career, Ms. Butts made a lasting impact as a coach, dedicating three seasons to UCLA, eight seasons to LSU and four seasons to Georgia Tech before serving as the head coach of the Georgetown University women’s basketball team at the time of her passing. It is both fitting and proper that we memorialize the legacy of Ms. Butts with a highway in her name, so that we may never forget the indelible mark she made on her community, teams and players.”
During the 2025 legislative session, Griffin introduced House Resolution 71, which would dedicate a road in Butts’ memory. Senate Resolution 8, the Senate’s annual road dedication package, added Butts’ resolution into its language.
Details of a road dedication ceremony in her honor will be announced.
— Contributed