Nell Goss, who joined Habersham County Government on August 24, 1982, and continued to serve in
various capacities until concluding her service as a poll worker earlier this year, has died.
While there were three or four years since 1982 when Goss did not work for the county, she was
a fixture in government for four decades.
Goss was 85 when she died at Northeast Georgia Medical Center Gainesville May 7.
She was Habersham County’s first certified female deputy sheriff, serving in the courthouse on
Monroe Street after receiving her training at the Georgia Public Safety Training Center.
Former Sheriff Harrison Nix said Goss worked with longtime Deputy Sheriff Ken Hightower in the
courthouse office.
In addition to service at the Sheriff’s Office, Goss worked in the tax commissioner’s office, probate court, magistrate court, in parks and recreation, and for decades as a poll worker.
Goss’s daughter, Brandi, grew up in the courthouse where her mother worked, saying, “She
worked at the courthouse since I was two weeks old. My bassinet was there.” Current Habersham County Probate Judge Pam Wooley said she remembers Brandi being in Goss’ office when Wooley joined the county in 1987.
Habersham County Elections Supervisor Laurel Ellison said she grew up around Goss and knew
her long before Ellison became involved in county government and elections.
Goss retired from the county’s parks and recreation department but continued to work the
elections. And her election experience goes back to the days of hand counting.
“I remember she helped count ballots,” Ellison said. “She was a hard worker.”
Outside county government and after leaving her day job, Goss worked at The Beef Baron near
Baldwin for the 22 years it was open.
The funeral service will be held at 4:00 Tuesday at Whitfield Funeral Home, North Chapel in Demorest.