James Nobles

Ludowici
Sheriff Cecil Nobles, Sheriff of Long County, passed away on January 9, 2012. Sheriff Nobles was a noted Georgia politician, having never lost an election. At the time of his death, he was the longest serving Sheriff in the State of Georgia and the second longest serving Sheriff in the United States. He had been elected to public office for 13 terms (11 terms as Sheriff and 2 terms as Coroner) for a total of 51 years of service in elected public office.
Cecil Nobles was born in Long County on February 21, 1935, to Raymond Elliott and Minnie Baxter Nobles. He was raised in Long County, and was educated in Long County Schools, Sheriff Nobles graduated from Ludowici High School in 1953. He is also a graduate of Brewton Parker College and Georgia Teachers College (now Georgia Southern University) where he earned a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration and a Master's Degree in Education.
Sheriff Nobles was a teacher in the Long County Schools from 1959 until 1969. During that time, he also served as an Assistant Principal. While he was teaching school, he also served as elected Coroner of Long County from 1962 through 1968.
During his tenure as Sheriff, Sheriff Nobles was noted for his tireless devotion to public service, his commitment to law enforcement, and his love of his family and friends throughout Long County, South Georgia and beyond. He was a noted conversationalist who always enjoyed meeting and serving the public. Sheriff Nobles has served on numerous boards and commissions. He was currently a member of the Board of Directors of The Glennville Bank. Sheriff Nobles also served as a Board Member of the Department of Corrections for the State of Georgia.
Sheriff Nobles received many honors over his many years of service. In 2001, the Georgia Legislature honored Sheriff Nobles by naming a portion of U.S. Highway 30l as "Cecil Nobles Highway". He also was honored in 2009 by the Georgia Senate with a resolution for "having so purely and truly defined for others the meaning of public servant" and in 2011 by the Georgia Board of Corrections noting that "Sheriff Nobles is held in high regard for his professionalism, knowledge and leadership in the field of public safety".
Throughout Sheriff Nobles' lifetime, he was very active in the community. He was a member of the Jones Creek Baptist Church. He co-founded the annual statewide Law Enforcement Appreciation Dinner.

In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by a sister, Florrie Moody.
Sheriff Nobles is survived by his wife of 54 years:Peggy DeLoach Nobles
3 Sons & Daughters-in-Law: James Cecil, Jr. and Stephanie
Kenneth Elliott and Bonnie
Craig William & Elizabeth
Grandchildren:Heather Lowe, William & Megan Nobles, Jordan Nobles,
Shelby Thompson and Hunter Thompson.
Great-Grandchildren:Caitlyn Lowe, Preston Lowe and Rylie Nobles.
Brother:Raymond Gus Nobles of Ludowici
Sister:Freda Nobles Eaken of Richmond, Virginia
He also leaves behind his dedicated Sheriff's deputies and staff, with whom he has worked closely over the years.
Visitation will be from 3:00 pm �½�½" 8:00 pm, Wednesday, January 11, 2012 at First Baptist Church of Ludowici. Funeral Services will be 11:00 am, Thursday, January 12, 2012 at First Baptist Church of Ludowici, Burial will follow in Jones Creek Baptist Church Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made to the Georgia Sheriff's Youth Homes P. O. Box 1000, Stockbridge, GA 30281, Hospice of South Georgia, Inc., 117 Drennon Drive, Jesup, Georgia 31545 or Jones Creek Baptist Church, 69 Jones Creek Church Loop, Ludowici, GA 31316.
Brannen-Kennedy Funeral Home, Glennville Chapel in charge of the arrangements for Sheriff Cecil Nobles.