Friday's Board of Supevisors meeting marked the end of an era for Yazoo County government.
The next county board meeting will mark the first time a Dew hasn't been seated in the District 4 Supervisor chair in nearly 30 years.
Jayne Dew decided to retire this year and not seek re-election after serving two terms following the death of her husband Ed Dew, who served District 4 for 20 years.
Ed Dew's death was a tremendous loss to Yazoo County, and there is probably no one else who could have stepped in and filled that void as quickly and as adequately as his wife. She shared the qualities that made him an effective supervisor, including a strong business mind and the courage to stand her ground on important issues. Jayne Dew quickly became a leader in handling county business, not just for District 4, but for the county as a whole.
One thing we have always liked about Jayne Dew is that you don't ever have to wonder about where she stands on an issue.
She's never been afraid to speak her mind, and that's a quality we admire – even in instances where we may have disagreed on a particular issue. The world would be a better place if all elected officials were so direct. It's better to always do what you think is right – even if you're wrong sometimes – than to try to constantly govern as if it's a popularity contest.
We wish Mrs. Dew the best in retirement, and we hope that she has many years to enjoy it.
She leaves some big shoes to fill.
