I’ve always felt a special connection to three local leaders — Henry Watts, S.E. “Spanky” Felter and Ronny Brown.

We have something in common, though I doubt any of those men ever realized it.

It all began on Jan. 5, 2004, at 9 a.m.

All four of us attended the regular January meeting of the Adams County Board of Supervisors. And for all four of us, Jan. 5, 2004, was the first day of a new job.

Watts and Felter had been elected supervisors a few months prior, but their work didn’t officially begin until that meeting.

Brown, also elected in the fall, began work at midnight that day.

I had moved to Natchez the week prior. My first assignment as the county reporter was to attend the 9 a.m. meeting.

And after the meeting ended, I went to Brown’s new office to interview him for story on his new job.

He had most of his family photos in place by the time I got there, but, if I remember correctly, a few things were still waiting to find their homes.

Deputies were walking in and out of his office, mostly with logistical questions for their new boss.

And the locksmith had been there to change the locks on the door.

Brown sat, utterly relaxed, behind the desk with a grandfatherly grin.

He told me — probably 20 times over — that he was happy to work with me, our newspaper and the city to lower crime and take care of the people.

In fact, the phrase “work together” came out of Brown’s mouth so many times during the three years I covered him, that I could start writing it in my notebook before he even said it. I knew it was coming.

And for the next five years, Brown made sure the Adams County Sheriff’s Office was “working together” with this newspaper, the Natchez Police Department and pretty much anyone else that came through his door or called his phone.

He didn’t pick sides. He didn’t play favorites. And he didn’t play dirty.

But Sheriff Brown is gone now. The grieving will continue, but the work at the ACSO must go on.

The supervisors made the right choice Monday when they appointed Brown’s wife, Angie Brown, to fill his position until a November election.

The move will prevent massive turnover and policy change now, when such turnover and change may happen again after the special election. Two major regime changes in one year could throw too many wrenches in the local judicial system to get much of anything done.

And Angie Brown has a good staff of majors and deputies working with her. These men and women will keep the system running smoothly and advise her well when needed.

We don’t know what the next nine months will bring. The ACSO may face major cases and disasters, or it may be an easy ride.

But Angie Brown doesn’t have to look far for her role model.

As long as she follows the systems her husband set up, asks herself what his decision would be and leans on those there to help, the county will be in good hands.

After all, Ronny taught us how to work together.

We just can’t forget his lessons.

Julie Cooper is the managing editor of The Natchez Democrat. She can be reached at 601-445-3551 or julie.cooper@natchezdemocrat.com.