Ferrell, Lone Oak mayor, was active in on-the-job safety in Coweta
Apr 20, 2018Ferrell died Friday. Brian Lee Ferrell, the mayor of Lone Oak and an active part of workplace safety efforts in Coweta County, died Friday at his home.“Little old Lone Oak just lost one of the best,” said Lone Oak Councilwoman Kody Forbus. “Thank goodness he left a legacy for us to remember.” Lone Oak is a town of about 100 people located just south of Grantville in Meriwether County. Ferrell, 49, had lived in the hamlet for years. In addition to serving as mayor, he headed the work at the local fire station. He had been a firefighter since 1990. He was employed as safety coordinator and director of first responders for Yokogawa America in Newnan. He had worked at Yokogawa for almost 30 years. “Brian has served on the board of the Coweta County Safety Council for the past two years,” said Ken Pinkerton, safety council president. Ferrell had served as secretary for the council, which is affiliated with the Newnan-Coweta Chamber of Commerce. “He was instrumental in updating the current communications list,” Pinkerton said. “Brian was a vital part of our committee, and he will be greatly missed.” Ferrell was a Cobb County native, but he had lived in the Hogansville area for most of his life. Coweta County Board of Education member Amy Dees and Ferrell were cousins. “He adored his little brothers,” she remembered. “He would entertain them and keep them busy while the aunts talked.” Dees also said Ferrell had a quiet side, but that he “chatted away” with family. Forbus and Bonnie Parker, who has worked for Lone Oak’s town government, both remembered Ferrell with fondness. Forbus recalled the mayor’s jocular laugh. “I won’t be able to set foot in our town hall without hearing echoes of Brian’s signature laugh,” she said. Forbus described his laugh as “the absolute greatest – a real, sincere chuckle, unlike any I’ve heard.” “My experiences with Brian showed him to be such a caring person, especially toward his community. He was always looking for ways to improve upon life i... (Newnan Times-Herald)
