When the New Year starts in Marion County, one face will be notably missing at the courthouse.
After 24 years Chancery Clerk Cass Barnes will have retired.
“I’ve had a good run,” he said.
Barnes said in some ways it has dragged on but in other ways the years have flown by.
For Barnes it all began in 1995 when he was first sworn in by Chancellor Sebe Dale Sr. Since he was first elected, only once did he draw a challenger for his seat.
“Humbly I say, apparently I have been doing a good job and I have appreciated everyone,” Barnes said.
He chose not to run for re-election this year and his term ends with the close of 2019.
Barnes, who lives in the Cheraw/New Hope area, said now he is going to focus on his family, children and grandchildren. He and his wife, Beth, have two daughters, both of whom live in Baton Rouge, La., with three grandchildren.
Elisha Moree, chancery clerk-elect who has been a deputy clerk under Barnes, said, “It is bittersweet. I will miss him deeply. He did a wonderful job.”
His favorite part of the job has been being able to help people, he said. To Barnes it has been rewarding when he has been able to assist in solving problems, and he has enjoyed meeting new people.
Barnes has a well-earned reputation for knowing just about everyone in the county.
“Everyone loves him. I am so happy for him. He has done a great job,” Marion County resident Mary Edwards said Friday. “He always greeted you with a smile and asked how he could help you.”
During the six terms in office, two events have stood out for Barnes: Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and the Dec. 23, 2014, tornado. “When Katrina hit the whole courthouse was shut down for a week. Everyone had to deal with personal issues at home with the damage,” he said.
When the Dec. 23 tornado struck, he was actually at the former Encore Physical Therapy on U.S. 98, mere yards from the Donut Shop and Jack’s Restaurant, which were completely destroyed. He said it stands out not because of anything with the courthouse but because it so deeply affected the county with its devastation.
The biggest change Barnes said he has seen through the years in the chancery clerk’s office has been moving toward becoming paperless. It has been a process, he said, that had him concerned because he risks losing court filings. For years he would actually keep the hard copies in the books and still file the documents electronically.
“I put in a lot of overtime keeping up with that. I wouldn’t ask my staff to do it,” Barnes said.
He finally decided near the end of 2014 it was time to stop filing both ways so at the beginning of 2015 the filing went completely electronic. He said it was a hard decision, but thankfully there have not been any major problems. Barnes also said there are multiple backups in the event something does happen.
After years of working on problems and assisting people, Barnes said he plans on staying busy come Jan. 1. He is going to stay active in the community and just find things to do, he said.
Barnes said he wants to be remembered as a man who did a job satisfactorily to all of Marion County and someone who has had time, made the time and had the patience to help. “It has been a pleasure and honor to serve Marion County,” he said.
The public is invited to a reception in honor of Barnes’ retirement that will be held from 3 p.m. until 5 p.m. Friday, Dec. 27 at the Sebe Dale Jr. Chancery Court Building.
