On Monday, Mike Beaumont, a partner with Albritton-Beaumont Funeral Directors, took over the reins that his father held for so long. Joe Beaumont sent a letter of resignation to Gov. Sonny Perdue earlier this month and his son, the deputy coroner, was sworn in to replace him in a ceremony at the Charles Kent Administrative Building.

The elder Beaumont, 79, was the longest-serving elected official in Tift County at the time of his resignation.

Joe Beaumont was elected coroner four times during his tenure. The younger Beaumont, 37, served as deputy coroner for each of Joe’s 17 years in office and received the award for Deputy Coroner of the Year in 1997. He was selected as Joe’s replacement by Probate Judge Suzanne Carter Johnson and will fill the unexpired office until a November 2006 special election.

Mike, a graduate of Gupton-Jones College of Funeral Services in Atlanta, said he feels that he knows what the community needs from a coroner.

“When they need a coroner, it’s an important time in people’s lives,” he said.

The coroner is responsible for pronouncement of death, a job that leaves the coroner on call at all hours of the day. He must also determine the cause and manner of death, identify unidentified bodies, make arrangements for transportation to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation Crime Lab for autopsies, file reports and sign death certificates.

Sometimes the coroner must hold public inquests when a family member challenges the cause or manner of death of a person or in cases of a jail death.

The younger Beaumont said that he feels he has the knowledge and experience to run the office effectively, and he intends to run for the elected position next year.

“If they’ll appoint me to it, I’ll run,” he said. “Or, I intend to run, let’s put it that way.”

Johnson said she selected Mike Beaumont because of his experience.

“I feel like he’s very much qualified,” Johnson said. “I just feel like he has the qualifications and experience.”

Mike was recommended to Johnson as the replacement by the Tift County Board of Commissioners by a unanimous vote during a meeting held last week.

Mike said that his father’s dedication to the coroner’s office was amazing as he responded to calls for nearly two decades.

“He served while battling adverse health conditions for a long time,” Mike said. “It’s been pretty admirable of him.

“I just feel like I need to fulfill the obligation that my dad had to the office.”

Although he did not name the individual, Mike said that he has talked to someone about being his deputy coroner and will select a quality person for his deputy.



To contact reporter Dusty Vassey, call 382-4321, ext. 208.