Jackson County Sheriff Janis Mangum named 2023 Georgia Sheriff of the Year

Wayne Ford, Athens Banner-Herald
·2 min read
Effingham County Sheriff Jimmy McDuffie, left, and Georgia Sheriff's Association Director Terry Norris, right, presented Jackson County Sheriff Janis Mangum with the association's 2023 Sheriff of the Year award on Wednesday, July 26.
Effingham County Sheriff Jimmy McDuffie, left, and Georgia Sheriff's Association Director Terry Norris, right, presented Jackson County Sheriff Janis Mangum with the association's 2023 Sheriff of the Year award on Wednesday, July 26.

Jackson County Sheriff Janis Mangum was honored with the 2023 Sheriff of the Year award on Wednesday at the Georgia Sheriff’s Association Annual Banquet held on Jekyll Island.

“I was so humbled,” Mangum said Thursday by phone as she traveled back to Jefferson.

Mangum, who was elected sheriff in 2012, said she learned of the award a couple of weeks ago.

“I cried all afternoon because I was so overwhelmed and felt so blessed. You have 159 sheriffs and you don’t think about receiving something like this, especially when you’re going to retire next year,” she said.

Mangum posted photos of the banquet on her Facebook and sent a message of thanks.

A message announcing the Sheriff of the Year award at the Georgia Sheriff's Association Annual Banquet on Jekyll Island.
A message announcing the Sheriff of the Year award at the Georgia Sheriff's Association Annual Banquet on Jekyll Island.

“Thank you to all the people that have supported me and have stood by me for the last 11 years as I have served as the sheriff and 35 years total at the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office. It’s been some ... journey,” she wrote.

Presenting Mangum with the award was Effingham County Sheriff Jimmy McDuffie, the outgoing GSA president, and Association Director Terry Norris.

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Besides members of her family, a contingent of people from Jackson County made the trip to Jekyll for the banquet.

Most of the sheriff’s office command staff attended, along with County Commission Chairman Tom Crow and Commissioners Marty Clarke and Chad Bingham. County Manager Kevin Poe and Assistant Manager Gina Roy also attended along with Joe Hicks of Jackson EMC and county Magistrate Judge Ben Green.

Jackson County officials and command staff deputies with the sheriff's office attended the banquet where Janis Mangum was honored by her peers as the 2023 Sheriff of the Year.
Jackson County officials and command staff deputies with the sheriff's office attended the banquet where Janis Mangum was honored by her peers as the 2023 Sheriff of the Year.

Mangum is the first woman elected sheriff in Jackson County and became the second woman in Georgia to win a sheriff's post.

When she originally won in 2012, she faced a field of seven candidates seeking the office. She won the election in a runoff in which she received 62% of the vote.

Her support in Jackson County was solidified in following elections as she garnered 87% of the vote in 2016 and 89% in 2020.

She announced in August 2022 that she would not seek re-election and would retire on Dec. 31, 2024.

In an interview with the Banner-Herald at the time, she expressed contentment with her decision.

“I made the decision and I have a peace about it, and I’m OK with it. But I’ll miss it,” she said.

This article originally appeared on Athens Banner-Herald: Jackson County Sheriff Janis Mangum wins Georgia Sheriff of the Year