Chairman Jackie Trim wrapped up the fourth and final year of his second term as Chairman of the Tattnall County Commissioners on Monday, December 2, 2024, at the regular meeting.  Trim was elected to his first term of four years in 2016 and won a second term unopposed in 2020.

He was recognized with a resolution on Monday, celebrating his service as Chairman while also recognizing his years of service as a Board member on the Tattnall County Board of Education from 1993 to 2003 and his service to the City of Reidsville as Mayor from 2004 through 2012.

County Manager Frank Murphy read the proclamation, and although Jackie injected some humor as usual, he was emotional.  Later, he would say being chairman was one of the best jobs he’s ever had because of the people he worked with.

Additionally, it was a bittersweet moment for family, friends, and county employees who have become accustomed to the steady hand of Jackie Trim in the midst of the COVID years and during the irregular and sometimes dangerous weather events of the past few years.  He was steady and unflappable in crisis conditions, and his confidence was reassuring to those who needed help during those times. It was understood that Jackie Trim would do whatever necessary and legal to get the job done.

Jackie is a lifelong resident of Tattnall County and a 1961 graduate of Reidsville High School.  He would probably say he majored in sports at Reidsville High as he played football, basketball, baseball, and ran track. He was outstanding in all those sports, and he would go on to play baseball at Brewton-Parker College.   

He grew up in a family that included his mother, Frances Stephens; grandmother, Eva Dubose (Miss Eva); and aunt, Peggy Rewis, who absolutely adored and spoiled him. Fortunately, he had an uncle, Frank Rewis, who counterbalanced the feminine influence with a stern set of rules that helped keep Jackie on a straight and narrow path. One of this writer’s favorite Jackie Trim stories occurred when 12-year-old Jackie and Charles Rhoden slipped off to go dove hunting at Estin Grinstead’s farm.  They were forbidden to take the guns out unsupervised, and Frank caught them.  Both declared that Frank wore out a wide leather belt on their lower backsides; Charles often said that belt was so hot it warped his underwear. When Jackie’s grades were sent home from Georgia Southern in 1966 that reflected something less than the expected effort, Frank explained to Jackie in plain South Georgia English that he needed to get serious about life.

So, Jackie Trim, Bruce Oliver, and Tommy Taylor joined the Marine Corps.  Frank had been a Merchant Marine in World War II and lost several friends in the North Atlantic.  He told Jackie that joining the Marines was not exactly what he had in mind.

Jackie, Bruce, and Tommy served in Vietnam.  Jackie served as a tunnel rat until he was relieved of that responsibility, and he was wounded twice in combat.  He met John Wayne on a hospital ship during recuperation from one of his wounds.

He continued his college education after the Marine Corps service and went to work as a teacher/coach at Tattnall Elementary School in 1970 where he coached football and basketball. He moved to Reidsville High School in 1971, and, two years later, he went to work for the Department of Corrections at Georgia State Prison in Reidsville. He eventually rose to the position of Warden at Rogers Correctional Institute in the mid-1980s and became a Regional Director before he retired in 1998.

Jackie never lost his love for sports and working with young people, and he continued as a volunteer coach at the Reidsville Recreation Department even during those years with the Department of Corrections. In 1992, he won the District 2 Tattnall County Board of Education seat and served until 2003 when he resigned to run for Mayor of Reidsville.  He served eight years in that position and finished in 2012.  In 2016, he ran for Chairman of the Tattnall County Commission and won.

In 2007, VFW Post 7764 was in danger of closing due to a severe shortage of members, and Jackie agreed to take the position of Quartermaster. Initially, the number of members attending meetings was usually six or less, including Jackie and the commander. Gradually, the membership increased even as he was diagnosed with melanoma in 2014.  In 2019, it was discovered that the melanoma had spread to the liver, lungs, and chest wall.  He and Bobby Kennedy continued to share the quartermaster duties until Ronnie Thomas was elected Quartermaster in 2019.  No doubt, Jackie Trim’s service as quartermaster during the critical years was a big reason Post 7764 survived.  Currently, it has 76 members and has been named an All-State All-American Post for four consecutive years. It is thriving at a time when many civic organizations are struggling.

Jackie continued to serve as Chairman of the Commissioners during the COVID-19 pandemic even as he underwent cancer treatments, which became increasingly severe.  Even so, he never missed a commissioners’ meeting.

That dedication to service was not surprising to those who know him.  The “get the job done attitude” instilled by his uncle Frank Rewis and the Marine Corps remained close to the surface, but he also had an Ace in the Hole in the form of his wife, Lisa Trim.  Lisa has that same bulldog attitude of “finishing the drill,” and she helped keep Jackie going during those years when the cancer treatments were so disruptive.  In order to avoid COVID infection with his weakened immune system due to those treatments, Lisa would not even let him pump gasoline. This scribe would argue that Jackie probably milked that situation, but who could blame him?  In reality, it was a decision Lisa made, and most people understand there is little chance of winning an argument with that hard-headed little lady.

Jackie has always been an avid hunter and fisherman, and during some of his worst days, he wanted to go deer hunting. Lisa would carry his gun, help him into the stand, and sit with him. Nowadays, Lisa is an avid deer hunter, although she goes along just to enjoy nature and spend time with Jackie.

In addition to the outdoors, Lisa and Jackie have another common interest. They seldom miss an athletic contest at Tattnall County High School.  Lisa played basketball in the 1970s at Reidsville High and then coached basketball there in the 1980s, so sports is a deep-rooted passion for both.  Johnny King and Jackie Trim became the Laurel and Hardy sports radio broadcasting team at Tattnall County High School, and many fans tuned in just to hear Jackie and Johnny argue. All of that was a good pastime to keep cancer off Jackie’s mind. Hopefully, Jackie (and Lisa) have won that battle.  His scans have indicated no cancer for the past three years.

Almost two years ago, the VFW Post 7764 Chaplain resigned.  Jackie Trim had started attending meetings again, and when it was announced that a new chaplain had to be selected, he allowed that he needed time to think about it but he might consider serving in that position.  Upon hearing that, Gene Williams yelled, “I nominate Jackie Trim for chaplain!”  Wayne Campbell and Earl Boyett provided a simultaneous second, and the entire membership responded with a roaring “Aye!”

Jackie nodded and said.  “Well, I guess that was enough time to think about it.”

No doubt, Gene, Wayne, Earl, and the membership considered it their duty to make his mind up for him.

It was a natural fit. For many years Jackie has visited hospitals, nursing homes, and the sick and elderly shut-ins in Tattnall County on a weekly basis to encourage them. Checking on VFW members who are sick or hospitalized is something he would do anyway.  Furthermore, only a few people know that when Jackie began college in 1961, he was considering a profession as a Methodist minister. In essence, his election as 7764 Chaplain is the modern-day equivalent of throwing Br’er Rabbit back into the briar patch.

After the Commissioners’ meeting was adjourned about 10:15 a.m., a celebration with delicious finger food provided by Southern Flair was held in the hallway of the first floor of the Courthouse.  Family and friends gathered and told Jackie Trim stories. It was a happy salute for a fine Tattnall County gentleman.

Jackie’s history is one of service to his country, his family, his church, his friends, his community, and military service members who risked their lives in foreign wars.  Now, he can take a little more time to deer hunt, quail hunt, fish, or do whatever he wants to do.  He allowed Monday that he could probably be found on a local creek Redfin Pike fishing in the near future. But don’t be surprised if he finds somewhere else to serve. It’s in his DNA.

Well done, Jackie Trim; Frances, Miss Eva, Peggy, and even Frank would be very proud.