Void left by recent death of 'hero' deputy 'will never be filled'

Editor:

A light has gone out in the world. On Sunday, July 11 I was notified with a long-distance phone call that Cpl. Wesley Mack of the Columbia County Sheriff's Office had been involved in a horrible motor vehicle accident while in service to his community, and the prognosis was not good.

Mack was one of the finest men that I ever had the privilege to have known in my lifetime. Wesley was a man who always wanted to give back to the world, and he always gave 100 percent. Wesley served his country for 20 years because he wanted to give. After leaving the service of his country, some would have wanted to kick back and enjoy retirement. Not Wesley; he wanted to do more. So he joined the Columbia County Sheriff's Office as a reserve officer. But he wanted to do more. He vacated his reserve status and became a full-time officer, and then went on to become part of the traffic unit, keeping the roads safe for the families in this community.

Wesley always had a smile and a kind word for everyone, friend and stranger alike. Wesley was a great family man who loved his children and his grandchildren. Wesley was a true hero and will be missed by everyone who knew him. The void left by this man will never be filled.

I was privileged to know him, and honored to have had the opportunity to call him friend.

Bill Cooper

Evans