Bulloch County Commissioner and retired Georgia State Patrol Sergeant George T. Jackson, 57, died Sunday in Augusta due to complications stemming from a long illness. Friends and associates mourned Monday as they recalled his kindness, fairness and integrity.
A Bulloch County commissioner in his second term, Jackson retired in July after a lengthy career in law enforcement. Jackson began his career as a Bulloch County Sheriff's deputy and ended as assistant post commander of GSP Post 45.
Jackson's passing "is a huge loss to the community," said Georgia State Patrol Capt. Kirk McGlamery, who worked with Jackson for many years. "He was a good person, cared about the county, the state, his people — he was a good friend and considerate man."
"He was a gentleman's gentleman," said Dan Foglio, member of the Statesboro Lions Club, of which Jackson was president. "He was a great man, and I really respected him. He was very fair and honest."
Fellow Bulloch County Commissioner Roy Thompson said every time he talked to someone Monday about Jackson's death, "everybody said what a good man he was. We're going to miss him."
Jackson was a dedicated county commissioner who often asked questions and showed a true interest in citizens' concerns during public meetings. He took law enforcement seriously and, in addition to his regular duties as a state trooper, taught a required driver's education course for several years.
Active in the community, he not only served as the Statesboro Lion's Club president, but was involved with the Statesboro Food Bank, served as chairman of the Bulloch County Democratic Party, and as a board member of the Coastal Georgia Regional Development Center.
As Lions Club president, Jackson "performed his responsibility in the same dedicated manner that he approached everything he did," said fellow club member Joe Bill Brannon, who is also involved with the food bank. "When asked to join the Board of Directors... he was determined to be more than a board member. He was available at every special project, carrying groceries to the cars of senior citizens... present at all mobile food pantries and any additional service he could in order to help those he considered less fortunate or blessed than he was."
"George Jackson was a dedicated, hard-working, and loyal Lion who embodied the Lion's motto, 'We Serve,' in his everyday actions," said fellow club member Rebekah Edenfield.
Bulloch County Commissioner Jan Tankersley remembered how Jackson would be "just as excited as you if you told him something good that happened to you.
"He was a good, fine, honest man," she said. "We're going to be hard pressed to find someone to fill his seat."
The vacated county commission seat will either be filled by a special election or by appointment, said Bulloch County staff attorney Jeff Akins. While the general statute dictates if a term has more than six months left, a special election is required, it allows for local legislation that may provide a clause allowing Superior c
Court judges to appoint someone to the seat, he said.
Akins was researching local legislation Monday to determine how Jackson's seat will be filled, he said.
Jackson "did an excellent job," he said. "He was an outstanding person and we're going to miss him both personally and professionally."
Bulloch County Manager Tom Couch echoed Akins' opinion of Jackson.
"He was a man of the utmost integrity," he said. "He was a real straight shooter. You always knew where he was coming from, and his honesty and integrity is what impressed me most about him."
Bulloch County Commission Chairman Garrett Nevil said Jackson was "a man who believed in doing the right thing. He believed in representing the citizens of Bulloch County and I admired that in him. Whenever he spoke, he made sense, and it was a pleasure working with someone like that. I admired him - a man who cared for all citizens of Bulloch County."
The Statesboro Lion's Club will "sorely miss his presence," Edenfield said. "We offer our condolences and support to his wife, Lion Theresa, and his family."
Jackson's wife Theresa is also an active Lion's Club member.
"He was a friend to many and a faithful servant to many more," Brannon said. "We were blessed to know him."
"The world would be a better place if there were more George Jacksons," Thompson said.
Funeral arrangements are incomplete. Hill's Mortuary is in charge of arrangements, and further information will be announced Wednesday.
A Bulloch County commissioner in his second term, Jackson retired in July after a lengthy career in law enforcement. Jackson began his career as a Bulloch County Sheriff's deputy and ended as assistant post commander of GSP Post 45.
Jackson's passing "is a huge loss to the community," said Georgia State Patrol Capt. Kirk McGlamery, who worked with Jackson for many years. "He was a good person, cared about the county, the state, his people — he was a good friend and considerate man."
"He was a gentleman's gentleman," said Dan Foglio, member of the Statesboro Lions Club, of which Jackson was president. "He was a great man, and I really respected him. He was very fair and honest."
Fellow Bulloch County Commissioner Roy Thompson said every time he talked to someone Monday about Jackson's death, "everybody said what a good man he was. We're going to miss him."
Jackson was a dedicated county commissioner who often asked questions and showed a true interest in citizens' concerns during public meetings. He took law enforcement seriously and, in addition to his regular duties as a state trooper, taught a required driver's education course for several years.
Active in the community, he not only served as the Statesboro Lion's Club president, but was involved with the Statesboro Food Bank, served as chairman of the Bulloch County Democratic Party, and as a board member of the Coastal Georgia Regional Development Center.
As Lions Club president, Jackson "performed his responsibility in the same dedicated manner that he approached everything he did," said fellow club member Joe Bill Brannon, who is also involved with the food bank. "When asked to join the Board of Directors... he was determined to be more than a board member. He was available at every special project, carrying groceries to the cars of senior citizens... present at all mobile food pantries and any additional service he could in order to help those he considered less fortunate or blessed than he was."
"George Jackson was a dedicated, hard-working, and loyal Lion who embodied the Lion's motto, 'We Serve,' in his everyday actions," said fellow club member Rebekah Edenfield.
Bulloch County Commissioner Jan Tankersley remembered how Jackson would be "just as excited as you if you told him something good that happened to you.
"He was a good, fine, honest man," she said. "We're going to be hard pressed to find someone to fill his seat."
The vacated county commission seat will either be filled by a special election or by appointment, said Bulloch County staff attorney Jeff Akins. While the general statute dictates if a term has more than six months left, a special election is required, it allows for local legislation that may provide a clause allowing Superior c
Court judges to appoint someone to the seat, he said.
Akins was researching local legislation Monday to determine how Jackson's seat will be filled, he said.
Jackson "did an excellent job," he said. "He was an outstanding person and we're going to miss him both personally and professionally."
Bulloch County Manager Tom Couch echoed Akins' opinion of Jackson.
"He was a man of the utmost integrity," he said. "He was a real straight shooter. You always knew where he was coming from, and his honesty and integrity is what impressed me most about him."
Bulloch County Commission Chairman Garrett Nevil said Jackson was "a man who believed in doing the right thing. He believed in representing the citizens of Bulloch County and I admired that in him. Whenever he spoke, he made sense, and it was a pleasure working with someone like that. I admired him - a man who cared for all citizens of Bulloch County."
The Statesboro Lion's Club will "sorely miss his presence," Edenfield said. "We offer our condolences and support to his wife, Lion Theresa, and his family."
Jackson's wife Theresa is also an active Lion's Club member.
"He was a friend to many and a faithful servant to many more," Brannon said. "We were blessed to know him."
"The world would be a better place if there were more George Jacksons," Thompson said.
Funeral arrangements are incomplete. Hill's Mortuary is in charge of arrangements, and further information will be announced Wednesday.