This Friday, local officials will dedicate the Chattooga County Courthouse Annex to longtime Chattooga County Probate Judge Jon Payne.

Judge Payne was the first Probate Judge in Chattooga County.  When he was first elected to office in the mid-1970’s, the position was called the “Ordinary Judge”.  Through the years, Judge Payne’s popularity with the citizens of Chattooga County continued to grow.  After his initial election, Judge Payne only faced opposition one time in nearly fifty years.

On Monday of this week, Judge Gary Woods issued a statement about this week’s dedication saying, “On behalf of Senator Jeff Mullis, Representative Eddie Lumsden, and the elected officials of Chattooga County, Georgia, we would like to invite each of you to attend the dedication ceremony of the Judicial Annex and Intersection (Washington Street & Commerce Street) which are being named in honor and memoriam of  Judge Jon Payne.    This dedication ceremony  will take place on Friday, October 22, 2021, at 9:00 a.m. in front of the Chattooga County Courthouse.   A reception will follow at the Chattooga County Civic Center. “