Honoring the Life of Joseph Henry (Joey) Zorn
HONORING THE LIFE OF JOSEPH HENRY (JOEY) ZORN -- (Extensions of Remarks - October 07, 2004)
SPEECH OF
HON. JOE WILSON
OF SOUTH CAROLINA
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2004
Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, last Saturday the life of the late Sheriff Joey Zorn of Barnwell County, South Carolina, was celebrated at a funeral service attended by hundreds of appreciative friends conducted by Dr. Steve Burnette, Dr. Ken Catoe, Rev. Scott Brown, Rev. John Nixon, Rev. Billy Mew, Rev. Eddie Jenkins, Rev. Wilbur Creech, and Rev. Farrell Ray.
In his last month he received the state's highest honor of the Order of the Palmetto inspired by the thoughtfulness of Mrs. Mary Cothran of Williston, South Carolina, along with South Carolina State Senator Jake Knotts. In addition to being a champion of law enforcement, he was the first Republican Sheriff ever elected in Barnwell County. The following obituary is from The State newspaper, published October 1, 2004.
JOSEPH HENRY (JOEY) ZORN III
BARNWELL.-Joseph H. (Joey) Zorn III, 49, Sheriff of Barnwell County, died Wednesday, September 29, 2004, after a courageous battle with cancer.
Born in Barnwell, S.C., he was the son of Joseph H. Zorn Jr. and Cleo Renew Zorn. He graduated from Barnwell High School and the University of South Carolina with a degree in Criminal Justice, and was a graduate of 70 advanced law enforcement courses. He served as a Special U.S. Deputy Marshal, on the Board of Directors of the Barnwell Co. Helpline, on the Board of Directors of the S.C. Sheriff's Association, president of the Ellenton Agriculture Club.
He was a member and deacon of Friendship Baptist Church, Gideon International, Harmony Masonic Lodge #17, Barnwell Rotary Club, Ellenton Agriculture Club, S.C. Sheriff's Association and Barnwell County TAG Enforcement Association. He had over 30 years of law enforcement experience, was active in the youth baseball program and was voted Barnwell County Chamber of Commerce Man of the Year 2002. He was selected S.C. American Legion Law Enforcement Officer of the Year 2004, and Rotarian of the Year 2004. On September 8, 2004, he was presented the Order of the Palmetto by Gov. Mark Sanford.
In 1988 Joey was elected Sheriff of Barnwell County, and this year ran unopposed for his fifth term. Some of his accomplishments are: expanded sheriff's office staff, started the 24 hour patrol, obtained grants that saved taxpayers over 2.8 million dollars, instituted the anti-drug DARE program which graduated over 4,000 5th grade students, was the first sheriff in S.C. to complete DARE school and teach DARE in the schools, placed Resource Officers in all Barnwell County schools, installed an advanced communications system, established an on-going training program for department personnel, established the Reserve Deputy program, the Chaplaincy program, Sheriff's emergency Response Team and a bloodhound tracking team.
Funeral services were held at 11 a.m. Saturday, October 2, 2004, in the Barnwell First Baptist Church. Burial followed in the Friendship Baptist Church Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society, 200 Jefferson St., Barnwell, SC 29812, Gideon International, P.O. Box 86, Williston, SC 29853 or the Connie Maxwell Children's Home, P.O. Box 1178, Greenwood, SC 29640.
Survivors include: His wife, Pamela Delk Zorn of Barnwell, SC; his parents, Joe and Cleo Zorn of Barnwell, SC; daughter, Jessica Zorn of Barnwell, SC; sons, Josh, Rodney and Russell Zorn of Barnwell, SC; sister and brother-in-law, Linda and Tommy Tyner of Abbeville, SC; mother and father-in-law, Jimmy and Faye Delk of Beech Island, SC; sister-in-law, Theresa Delk of Wrens, GA; four nieces.