Statement Released: Department of Public Health Removes Files From Courthouse

ELLIJAY, GA – The Georgia Department of Public Health from Atlanta was in Gilmer County today pulling records from the Gilmer County Probate office.
FYN asked why but the gentleman rolling the cart loaded with what we would later determine to be the birth and death certificates told us we would have to speak to the person in charge because he wasn’t able to say. He did tell us that we would be able to speak with the ladies with the Georgia Public Health Dept to find out why – so we waited. Two ladies did emerge from Judge Mullins office but told us the files were “personal” and refused to answer any questions and asked me not to take their photo. I continued to ask and they took my number and promised someone would call me and give me a statement.

After they left I was able to speak with Judge Anita Mullins who told us there is a new director of vital records at the Georgia Public Health Department and her name is Donna Moore. Mullins said Moore is currently making changes with the handling of vital records all over the state, and Gilmer will not be doing vital records any more. When I asked Ms. Mullins what they took today she said they pulled mostly birth and death certificates. She said some records they took did not have any copies anywhere. Judge Mullins told us she is not sure exactly what changes may take place at this time but did tell us that marriage certificates remained in Gilmer.

“The removal of vital records from the Gilmer County Courthouse is a temporary situation. The Georgia Department of Public Health’s Office of Vital Records is in the process of transitioning to an electronic record keeping system that will be far more efficient than the current paper system. Once equipment is installed and personnel are trained by approximately mid-April, birth and death certificates may be obtained from the Gilmer County Health Department, Environmental Health Office in the Gilmer County Courthouse. In the meantime, requests for birth and death records may be made online at http://dph.georgia.gov/VitalRecords. If you have questions, please call the Office of Vital Records at 404-679-4702.”