Director James Byron Dawson, Ph. D., age 69, of White Plains, GA., died
Sunday, May 15, 2011 at Athens Regional Medical Center. Born in Athens,
Georgia on November 22, 1941, he was the son of the late James Linton
Dawson and Reba Bowers Dawson. He grew up in the Winterville Community
attending Winterville Elementary School and graduating from Athens High
School in the class of 1960. He was a member of Liberty United Methodist
Church and a volunteer fireman of the Liberty Fire Department.

Dr. J. Byron Dawson began his scientific career as a teaching assistant
and under graduate research assistant at the Georgia Institute of
Technology, Department of Chemistry. Dr. Dawson's public safety career
began in 1969 as the Assistant Director of the Georgia State Crime
Laboratory, which at that time was part of the Georgia Department of
Public Safety. Dr. Dawson was also appointed as Special Agent, Georgia
Bureau of Investigation, Department of Public Safety, on April 15, 1969.
On October 1, 1988 he was appointed as the Deputy Director, Division of
Forensic Sciences, Georgia Bureau of Investigation.

Dr. Dawson's accomplishments during his tenure include recognition by
the U.S. Department of Justice, Drug Enforcement Administration, the
Georgia Human Relations Commission, and by former Georgia Governor and
U.S. Senator, Zell Miller for his service to the State of Georgia and
the United States. The City of Albany, Georgia recognized Deputy
Director Dawson in 1994 for the Division of Forensic Sciences response
in identifying more than 300 human remains and restoring Albany's
Oakview and Riverside Cemeteries which were decimated as a result of the
July 1994 floods. In 1995 and 1996, Dr. Dawson was instrumental in the
strategic emergency response planning for the 1996 Centennial Olympic
Games held in Atlanta, GA. On April 1, 1997, Dr. Dawson retired from
public service.

Dr. Dawson is a graduate of the Emory University Medical Examiner's
Course and certified as a Forensic Scientist by the Georgia Peace
Officer Standards and Training Council. In 1993 Dr. Dawson was certified
by the American Board of Criminalistics. He has a Bachelor's of Science
Degree and Ph.D in Chemistry from the Georgia Institute of Technology.

Dr. Dawson's professional affiliations include the American Chemical
Society, the Chemical Society, London, England, the Society of Sigma Xi
(The Scientific Research Society), the Southern Association of Forensic
Sciences, the National Association of Auto Theft Investigators, the
California Association of Criminalistics, and the American Academy of
Forensic Sciences. Deputy Director Dawson was a life member of the Peace
Officers Association of Georgia. His publications include "Synthesis of
a Perhydroazulene Derivative" and "Photochemical Rearrangements".

He is married to the former Deborah Hiter of Decatur, Georgia now of
White Plains, GA. Other survivors include his three children, Lisa
Eavenson of Savannah, GA, Melanie Anderson and husband Billy of
Knoxville, TN and Charles Dawson and wife Susannah of McDonough, GA; two
stepsons, Will Fowlkes of Jefferson, GA and Brent Fowlkes and wife Mandi
of Tuscaloosa, AL; a sister, Beckie Hargrove and husband Scotty of
Hiawassee, GA; and grandchildren, Tanner, Sawyer and McKenna Eavenson,
Hannah and Olivia Dawson, Jordan and Dawson Anderson and Brady, Brock,
Sydney and Brooks Fowlkes.

Memorial Services will be held on Wednesday, May 18, 2011 at 11:00 a.m.
at Liberty United Methodist Church, 3091 Liberty Church Road, White
Plains, GA 30678 with Rev. Edward A. Swehla officiating. The family will
receive friends from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Tuesday night at McCommons
Funeral Home. Any memorials may be made to the Liberty United Methodist
Church Building Fund, c/o Ann Smith, 2491 Shiloh Road, Greensboro, GA
30642 or Liberty Volunteer Fire Department, c/o Michael Strickland, 1111
Flat Rock Church Road, White Plains, GA 30678. McCommons Funeral Home,
109 W. Broad St., Greensboro, GA, (706) 453-2626, is in charge of
arrangements. Visit us at www.mccommonsfuneralhome.com to sign the
online guest register