House Joint Resolution 661, sponsored by Representative Doggett, honors the late Bertha Mae Dees Faulkner, who has been posthumously awarded the Governor's Volunteer Stars Award for her exceptional dedication to community service. The resolution highlights the significant impact of volunteers in Tennessee, noting that 1.3 million individuals contribute over 99 million hours of service annually, which equates to $2.6 billion for the state's economy. Ms. Faulkner, a resident of Lawrence County, exemplified this spirit of giving through her extensive work with the South Central Human Resource Agency and her long-term volunteer efforts at New Prospect Elementary School.

Known affectionately as "Ma Bert," Ms. Faulkner mentored and tutored over 370 first-grade students during her nineteen years in the Foster Grandparent Program, leaving a lasting legacy of compassion and service. The resolution reflects on her commitment to helping others, which embodies the essence of the Volunteer State, and acknowledges her family, including her three children, six grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren, who continue her legacy. The General Assembly expresses its gratitude for her outstanding community leadership and the selfless spirit she represented.