THOMASVILLE—On Monday, December 30, 2024, a historic oath of office was held at the plaza of the 1858 courthouse, as Sheriff-elect Tim Watkins became the first African American and Republican Sheriff of Thomas County.

County Manager Mike Stephenson welcomed the large crowd to the event, honoring outgoing Sheriff R. Carlton Powell while ushering in a new era and celebrating Watkins’s career.

“This is definitely a historic moment,” Stephenson said. “We have a lot to be proud of in Thomas County; we’ve made a very profound change.”

Stephenson explained Powell was the son of a Sheriff proper, while Watkins was the great-grandson of a slave.

However, Watkins never let his past define him and has continued to prosper in Thomas County under the guidance of Powell.

Powell took to the podium to thank those gathered for their support during his tenure as Sheriff, leaving some advice to Watkins as he assumes his new role.

He began by congratulating Watkins on a clean, fairly won race.

“He won and he won big, and for that, we can be thankful,” Powell said.

Powell shared with the crowd that Watkins has been a prosecuting law enforcement officer since he began in Thomas County. But, on Monday his role would change. He would no longer just be a prosecuting law enforcement officer, he would be forced to look after all of Thomas County and face difficult decisions.

“He’s going to have to be the judge,” Powell said. “He’s going to have to make some decisions. Not all of the decisions will be made on prosecuting; he’s going to have to look after the people.”

Powell explained it is important for Watkins to realize his job is no longer just prosecuting.

“It’s about how many people you can keep out of trouble,” he said. “It’s not how many people you can lock up or how many you can put in jail, but how many you can save and help.”

Powell said Watkins has a big job ahead of him, but he can always ask others for advice and help in a difficult situation.

“You don’t realize how many people will come to you with tears in their eyes, telling you their child has gotten in trouble, or my mama has done this, and you’ll have to make some decisions,” Powell said. “Sometimes, you’re going to have to consort with some other people to ask them for their advice on what you’re doing.”

While it is a huge task, Powell assured the crowd that Watkins is capable of handling it.

“I’ve watched him work,” he said. “He’s been an investigator for me for more years than I can count.”

Powell closed by encouraging Watkins to remember a passage from Psalms.

“If we can depend on the Lord, things will turn out ok,” he said, before thanking the crowd for allowing him to serve as Sheriff for the last 60 years.

With a standing ovation, Watkins shook Powell’s hand and took to the podium for his oath of office given by Superior Court Judges James L. Prine and Catherine Smith.

Following his oath of office, Watkins addressed the crowd, thanking God first, for Him all things are possible.

He then thanked Powell for all of his guidance throughout the years.

“I’d like to thank Sheriff Powell for hiring me way back when,” he said. “Thank you for counseling me and guiding me to be the next Sheriff.”

Watkins has learned from Powell that the office of Sheriff is not a person, but a duty.

“We have the duty to preserve the peace, protect the lives, personal property, and morals of the people,” he said. “That’s what a Sheriff is.”

Watkins said he hopes to continue to build on the foundation Powell paved for him, while still moving in a forward direction, beginning with the aging jail and resources available to fellow deputies.

“I want to make sure the deputies have resiliency training so they can deal with the stresses of this job,” he said. “People don’t know the true horrors we deal with.”

As Watkins looks toward the future and the changes to come, he concluded by thanking all those who came before him to make his election possible.