In Memoriam: Former Bryan County Commission Chairman & ACCG Past President

Former Bryan County Commission Chairman and ACCG Past President Carlton Gill (1940-2019)

 

Former Bryan County Commission Chairman and ACCG Past President Carlton Gill passed on February 18, 2019. A two-term district commissioner and three-term chairman, Gill served as ACCG president from 1982-1983. During his time as association president, ACCG and Georgia’s county officials saw what is known today as the ACCG Group Self-Insurance Workers’ Compensation Fund (ACCG-GSWICF) come to fruition.

Having served on the NACo Board of Directors for one year, Gill was an advocate for Georgia county officials’ active engagement in the National Association of Counties (NACo). As stated in his first President’s Message editorial in the May 1982 issue of Georgia County Government magazine, “As Georgians, we need a stronger voice in NACo. County government here in the South is far different from what you find in the North and Far West. If we don’t maintain balanced representation for our part of the country and for the southern concept of local government, we’re going to see a lot of Federal policy developed that doesn’t fit our circumstances.”

Gill’s association presidency was during a time in which ACCG began offering more diverse programs to Georgia counties – including workers’ compensationand loss control, among others. Former ACCG Executive Director Jerry Griffin remembers Gill as a great leader in support of such innovative changes.

“Carlton was a great leader at ACCG,” said Griffin. “He was on the selection committee that hired me, and he and Emory Greene from Bibb County were great supporters as we rebuilt ACCG.” 

A native of Chatham County’s Savannah, Gill received a master’s degree in forestry from the University of Georgia and also studied at Georgia Southern College. He spent his professional career as a procurement forester with S.A. Allen for 37 years. He is survived by his wife Joy B. Gill, their three daughters, grandchildren, and a host of extended family members.

See here for information on the services and for details on how to send remembrances.