HAWKINSVILLE, Ga. — Folks in Hawkinsville are remembering the life of James A. Colson, who died on October 21 at the age of 79.
He was well known in the community for being a Pulaski County educator for 44 years.
He also was a Hawkinsville Commissioner, and was Hawkinsville's first and only Black commissioner.
Now, people are saying his death has left a hole in the community.
"Its just such a vacancy," says Commissioner Shelly Berryhill.
"Pulaski County is gonna be so lost without him," says former Pulaski County Superintendent.
From an educator, to a city official, to a friend, Colson left an impact on everyone he encountered.
"He gave us something in our community to look up to," says Ronald Brown.
Brown says he met Colson at the Thompson Theatre when he was young. He said the community referred to Colson as "Chief".
He remembers Colson as a cheerful person always offering encouragement.
"You could approach him for anything," he said
He says he remembers Colson being a hard-worker, someone who never stopped moving.
"I think if it wasn't for sickness and death he'd be still working. He'd be still out here," he says.
Longtime colleague Commissioner Berryhill agrees. He said he worked with him for about 20 years and Colson was always on the go.
"He always made the meetings, if there was a community function he was there, I don't know how he did it all," Berryhill says.
Berryhill says he's never heard anyone say anything negative about Mr. Colson, even about his discipline.
"He was always the disciplinarian but people respected him," he said.
"We were joking earlier say that at the funeral today they should ask anyone whose ever been paddled by Mr. James to stand up, because he has probably paddled half the people in this community," he adds.
Berryhill says one testament of his character and how much people respected him is how he always ran unopposed for his commission seat.
"He served for 41 years, has never been opposed when running for re-election. That speaks volumes. No one wanted to replace him on the board. I don't think any of the rest of us can say that," says Berryhill.
Kay Dawson says her memories of Mr. James come from education.
"He was the perfect man and he truly had education in his blood," Dawson says.
She says they worked together when Colson was the Assistant Principal at Pulaski Elementary School.
"There was not a better person in Pulaski County that accepted all walks of life than James Colson," she added.
Everyone can agree he had a loving spirit.
"He always had this attitude of gratitude, and I hope to emulate that," says Berryhill.
To reciprocate their gratitude, the city named a park after him in 2011 and they honored him by holding his funeral there Saturday afternoon.
WHAT OTHER PEOPLE ARE READING: