Dawsonville city mayor and lifelong Dawson County resident, the Honorable Joe Lane Cox, died Friday, March 9. He was 72.

The mayor had been admitted to Northeast Georgia Medical Center in Gainesville approximately two weeks prior.

Coxs death threw the community into mourning.

Were just trying to gather ourselves together, said pro-tem mayor James Grogan about the citys reaction to the news.

Commission chairman Mike Berg reminisced about Coxs career, including creating the county zoning ordinances in the early 90s, and then converting Thunder Road to City Hall. Both were not easy decisions, Berg said.

We all mourn Joes passing, he continued. He will also be remembered for his many years of service to the community.

Cox took the office of Dawsonville mayor in 2003. He was serving his third term in the office.

Prior to becoming city mayor, he had been a public servant for many years, working as the sole commissioner of Dawson County for three terms beginning in 1982. He also served one term as probate judge beginning in 1977.

Mayor pro-tem James Grogan has assumed the duties and responsibilities of the mayor. The city council will decide when a special election for mayor will be held at their April 2 meeting.

Were trying to continue the things that Joe Lane had already started, Grogan said. Were not making any rash decisions in anything that were doing right now.

Were just holding firm to the things that we know work.