Dawsonville is mourning the death of a passionate public servant whose political career spanned nearly four decades.
Mayor Joe Lane Cox died Friday in his sleep at Northeast Georgia Medical Center in Gainesville. He was 72.
News of his death traveled quickly through the tightknit community, where Cox had served as mayor since January 2004.
"Our city is in mourning," Councilman James Grogan said. "Our prayers are with his family."