Outgoing Putnam County Tax Commissioner Pam Lancaster seemed practically giddy after officially handing over the departmental reins last Thursday to Chief Deputy Commissioner Terrell Abernathy in a brief ceremony at the county courthouse.
With his right arm raised, his left hand resting on a family bible held by his wife, Brandi, and stepdaughter Emma Price watching nearby, Abernathy, 48, was sworn in by Probate Judge Brandy T. Huskins.
“For a minute there I thought I was going to have to repeat everything (Judge Huskins) said,” Abernathy admitted later. “I was starting to panic a little, so I was quite relieved when I just had to answer, ‘I do.’” Following a successful private career as a certified public accountant, Lancaster had taken over the county tax role almost 11 years earlier to the day.
Sporting an “Officially Retired” sash and a tiara stating “Retired” atop her head, Lancaster had a mile-wide smile as she met and chatted with Putnam County Commission Chairman Bill Sharp, County Manager Paul Van Haute, Clerk of Courts Trevor Addison, Eatonton Mayor John Reid, Sheriff Howard Sills, and Putnam County Fire Chief Thomas McClain among dozens of other dignitaries and wellwishers on hand for her last day on the job.
“I’m ready. And I can, so I want to,” Lancaster stated when asked why leave now after serving in the role since Jan. 1, 2013, and up for reelection in November. “I have six grandchildren here and two more on the way (in 2024). It’s all about family,” she added with a bigger smile.
“I loved the people, but the deadlines were getting old,” Lancaster further explained. “After I sold my (CPA) practice, I had the opportunity to run for office, and the more I thought about it I knew this was a great way to serve the county. The office of the tax commissioner is simply billing and collecting and then paying that out to the school board, the county, and the city, and my accounting background made this a job that I felt I could do and be of service. I love this country; it has been my home since I was nine. But it’s time to do other things now.”
Regardless, Lancaster also declared complete confidence in Abernathy, a former Putnam County sheriff’s deputy, detective, and jailer for 18 years who joined the county tax office three years ago and proved to be a quick learner.
“Terrell came to work for us when Jerry Hobbs retired as director of collections. But Jerry was able to work with him for about six months (early in 2021) and I’m thankful for that,” she said. “Jerry was a great director of collections. He recently passed away and that was a tremendous loss to us in our office, but I’m glad that Jerry was able to train Terrell and he’s been doing the job for months now. So, it’s an easy transition here.”
Abernathy, who grew up with a certified public accountant and banker as his father, said that between that and on-the-job training from Hobbs and Lancaster, he feels well-prepared for undertaking his new role.
“With my different background, my approach to fulfilling the office has to pivot as well. But I’ve gotten a fabulous tutelage from Pam, so although accounting is not my first language, I can speak it now,” Abernathy said.
“And we do have employees that do the bookkeeping, and we have an accounting firm that audits and oversees our books, so I’m just pivoting from being the number-two man in the office with her help. So, it’s not a painful transition, or at least I don’t expect it to be.”
Abernathy also confirmed he plans to run for reelection to the post this fall, which would represent his first political campaign as a candidate.
He already has the backing of at least one prominent advocate.
“If someone should run against him, I will be his number-one supporter,” Lancaster declared. “I can promise you because I know how well qualified Terrell is, and I know what a good person he is, and I know what a good job he’ll do, no doubt at all.”
Following a brief, thoughtful pause, Lancaster repeated how grateful she was for having the opportunity to have served in the role herself.
“It meant so much,” she concluded of retiring from the county tax commissioner’s role, tearing up a little at the thought. “But that is the best way to end a professional career, being able to serve the people you love and honor. I love this place.”