First mayor of Between, Ga. passes away

In this Bicentennial year of Walton County, the first mayor of Between, Ga. passed away. Navy veteran and first mayor of Between, Jim Summerour Briscoe, passed away on June 30, 2018 at the age of 93. He was born in Between on May 13, 1925 to the late Ethel Summerour Briscoe and the late John Briscoe.

According to information shared by the family, Briscoe was sworn in as Mayor of Between in 1970, 62 years after the city was incorporated in 1908. At the time of his swearing in, Briscoe was reported as being one of the 80 residents of the community of Between. Four councilman also were elected to Between’s first city council. The reason given for finally exercising the charter that was given more than half a century before was to secure a water system. The city has since more than tripled in size with the 2016 estimated census putting the population as almost 350 residents. The city also now is the location for Walton County Fire Rescue headquarters and home to a Georgia Department of Public Safety licensing office. Ashley Blackstone is the current mayor of Between.

Briscoe leaves behind his son, Jimmy Briscoe and Michelle Garrett of Monroe, his sister, Edith Smith of Monroe, and his grandchildren, Ryan Briscoe and Jarrett Briscoe. A funeral service was held on Tuesday, July 3, 2018 in the Chapel of Meadows Funeral Home with an interment at New Hope United Methodist Church Cemetery. A video tribute to Jim Summerour Briscoe can be seen at this link.