Friends, co-workers mourn assistant DA Gail Fannon's death
by Kellen Moore
The community is mourning this week for a wife and mother who
was an institution in the Boone legal community and a guiding light for the Hickory Ridge Living
History Museum.
Assistant district attorney Gail Fannon died unexpectedly Tuesday at Carolinas Medical Center. She was 69.
Fannon was born in Sparta and received her bachelor's and master's degrees from Appalachian State University. She also graduated from the Campbell University School of Law.
After teaching for several years, Fannon made history by opening the first all-female law firm in Boone in 1981. She moved from defense to prosecution when she became an assistant district attorney about five years ago.
Court sessions in Watauga County were canceled this week after the staff learned of her death.
"It's just a void," said Sherry Perry, investigator for the district attorney's office. "You walk in her office and there's mail, and there's shoes under the desk and a coat in the closet and her little witch for Halloween. It's just hard."
Friends of Fannon said she had gone for a routine doctor's appointment Tuesday when an EKG showed abnormalities. She went to the emergency room before being flown to Charlotte.
Despite the shock of her sudden passing, co-workers and friends were thinking fondly of Fannon this week.
"She could get things done that no one else could get done," Perry said. "She could work in any court. You could put her in district court, juvenile court, superior court, drug court."
Emily Wilson, victim/witness legal assistant in the district attorney's office, said Fannon's legal expertise will be missed — but also her personality.
"She was a very positive person," Wilson said. "She was always very welcoming to the public. Of course, we don't always deal with the nicest folks, but she was always just understanding and patient."
Her understanding extended to the law enforcement officers she encountered. Co-workers said she worked hard to make sure their time in court was quick and efficient.
"She had a very good reputation and a very fine following of being fair in court and really looking after both the defendant, when she was in private practice, and as a prosecutor," Sheriff Len Hagaman said.
Outside the courthouse, friends say Fannon's passion was at the Hickory Ridge Living History Museum, where she had invested years of time and talents.
Fannon enjoyed sewing attire for the Homestead re-enactments, cooking and sharing history with the visitors, said Michelle Ligon, a board member for the Southern Appalachian Historical Association.
"Gail was a patient person, and she took genuine interest in people," Ligon said. "She especially liked working with the children."
Fannon was also a tough woman who enjoyed turkey shoots and throwing tomahawks, friends said.
Davy Davis, curator of the museum, said he had known Fannon about 20 years. Davis said she was the true keeper of the museum, even during the years it wasn't operating at its peak.
"She was real dedicated to Hickory Ridge, and even in bad times of Hickory Ridge, she was still one of the few that hung around and sort of looked after it," Davis said. "She was the mother, really, to a lot of the people up there. She looked after all of us."
Davis said he hopes the community will take the time to mourn, but will also honor Fannon by keeping her causes of justice and history alive.
"In my opinion, she had three families," Davis said. "She had her personal family that she loved, and she had the Hickory Ridge family she loved, and she had the lawyer and court system family that she loved. And she was pretty dedicated to all of them."
Services were held Friday by Austin & Barnes Funeral Home Chapel.
Assistant district attorney Gail Fannon died unexpectedly Tuesday at Carolinas Medical Center. She was 69.
Fannon was born in Sparta and received her bachelor's and master's degrees from Appalachian State University. She also graduated from the Campbell University School of Law.
After teaching for several years, Fannon made history by opening the first all-female law firm in Boone in 1981. She moved from defense to prosecution when she became an assistant district attorney about five years ago.
Court sessions in Watauga County were canceled this week after the staff learned of her death.
"It's just a void," said Sherry Perry, investigator for the district attorney's office. "You walk in her office and there's mail, and there's shoes under the desk and a coat in the closet and her little witch for Halloween. It's just hard."
Friends of Fannon said she had gone for a routine doctor's appointment Tuesday when an EKG showed abnormalities. She went to the emergency room before being flown to Charlotte.
Despite the shock of her sudden passing, co-workers and friends were thinking fondly of Fannon this week.
"She could get things done that no one else could get done," Perry said. "She could work in any court. You could put her in district court, juvenile court, superior court, drug court."
Emily Wilson, victim/witness legal assistant in the district attorney's office, said Fannon's legal expertise will be missed — but also her personality.
"She was a very positive person," Wilson said. "She was always very welcoming to the public. Of course, we don't always deal with the nicest folks, but she was always just understanding and patient."
Her understanding extended to the law enforcement officers she encountered. Co-workers said she worked hard to make sure their time in court was quick and efficient.
"She had a very good reputation and a very fine following of being fair in court and really looking after both the defendant, when she was in private practice, and as a prosecutor," Sheriff Len Hagaman said.
Outside the courthouse, friends say Fannon's passion was at the Hickory Ridge Living History Museum, where she had invested years of time and talents.
Fannon enjoyed sewing attire for the Homestead re-enactments, cooking and sharing history with the visitors, said Michelle Ligon, a board member for the Southern Appalachian Historical Association.
"Gail was a patient person, and she took genuine interest in people," Ligon said. "She especially liked working with the children."
Fannon was also a tough woman who enjoyed turkey shoots and throwing tomahawks, friends said.
Davy Davis, curator of the museum, said he had known Fannon about 20 years. Davis said she was the true keeper of the museum, even during the years it wasn't operating at its peak.
"She was real dedicated to Hickory Ridge, and even in bad times of Hickory Ridge, she was still one of the few that hung around and sort of looked after it," Davis said. "She was the mother, really, to a lot of the people up there. She looked after all of us."
Davis said he hopes the community will take the time to mourn, but will also honor Fannon by keeping her causes of justice and history alive.
"In my opinion, she had three families," Davis said. "She had her personal family that she loved, and she had the Hickory Ridge family she loved, and she had the lawyer and court system family that she loved. And she was pretty dedicated to all of them."
Services were held Friday by Austin & Barnes Funeral Home Chapel.