10/20/2026
With great sadness, the Emanuel County Board of Commissioners this afternoon announces the passing of our Public Safety/EMA Director, Mr. Courtney Terwilliger.
Courtney devoted more than four decades of his life to emergency services and the protection of others throughout Emanuel County, around the state, and, in some cases, even across the country. We were fortunate to welcome him into the Emanuel County government in 2021 for what would ultimately become the final chapter of an extraordinary career of public service.
Mr. Courtney brought with him a lifetime of knowledge, relationships, and experience that simply cannot be replaced. His leadership, commitment, professional network, and steady, good-natured approach helped make our emergency management, fire and rescue, communications, and broader public safety operations one of the strongest in Georgia.
To those who had the privilege of working alongside him, however, Mr. Courtney transcended title. More than a department head or public safety leader, he was a trusted colleague, a friend, and a man who genuinely loved the place he called home and the people who called it home with him.
On behalf of the commission, we extend our heartfelt condolences to Courtney’s beloved family, his friends, fellow emergency services brothers and sisters, and the countless people whose lives he touched through his work.
Emanuel County is better because Courtney Terwilliger dedicated his life to serving it. The systems he participated in, the people he mentored, and the relationships he built will continue to serve this county long after his passing.
In the coming week, we will share a more comprehensive tribute remembering Mr. Courtney’s life and legacy, and we will relay to our community arrangements as announced by the family. Until then, please join us in keeping the Terwilliger family and Emanuel County at large in thought and prayer.
“I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.” — 2 Timothy 4:7
