News

DSS board names interim director

By Bill Moss, Published: December 21, 2015

The Henderson County Board of Social Services on Monday selected an interim director to fill the vacancy created by the death of director Eric Bush.

In an emergency meeting on Monday afternoon, the board named Jerrie McFalls to the post of interim director for the second time. McFalls also led the agency after the retirement of longtime director Liston Smith in 2013.

Bush died on Friday on a kayaking trip with his son on the Nolichucky River on the Tennessee line in Mitchell County.

"We're just devastated because we were all together on Tuesday," said Social Services board vice chair Melinda Lowrance. "He was easy to work with. I found him to be very compassionate and passionate about this work and the community. It's such a loss not only to his family but to the county."

The board met for only 18 minutes and took no other action.

"In the January meeting we will go into full mode of getting our search committee together," Lowrance said.

McFalls, who was planning to retire in February, agreed to take on the interim leadership role.