Former Barrow County human resources director Norma Jean Brown moved out of her office last Thursday, but controversy dogged her all of the way to her Pierce Road neighborhood.
Arriving at the home of her neighbor and family friend, Bob Akin, she had planned to unload and sort out a large assortment of office artwork, knickknacks and other items.
But commissioner Isaiah Berry met her in the driveway and directed her not to remove anything from her van until commissioner Billy Parks arrived.
Berry and Parks had observed Brown’s nearly three hours of packing, and Berry also used his own truck to deliver Brown’s office couch to Akin’s driveway.
But he said he had received a call from Parks, who was concerned about an allegation that Brown might have surreptitiously removed “personnel files” from her former office.
Parks arrived several minutes later and explained that after Brown left the county building in her packed van, HR benefits coordinator Michelle Thrasher told him that a Buildings & Grounds employee had noticed in a county-owned truck being used for the move one or more white garbage bags with “personnel files” inside.
Parks said Thrasher told him that she went to the truck and saw the bag too, but she did not retrieve it.
Thrasher believed the bag contained applications from both past and current fire chief searches, because all of the applications were missing, Parks said.
Confronted with Thrasher’s accusation, Brown vehemently protested.
For more on this story, see the October 20 edition of the Barrow Journal or click here to read the full story online when you subscribe to our new e-edition. 
Who was the employee who "noticed" the white bags with employee files? Does this employee have some "special" powers that we don't know about? Like x-ray vision?
Why would they think they were the "missing" employee files for the ff position?
Why was she using a county truck to delivery items from her office? Ever heard of U-Haul?
If Parks was in Brown's office "supervising" her, how is it he "didn't" hear the conversation with HoHe?
Why would someone place files in "storage" for "safe keeping" and not tell anyone?
Why did HoHe develop "selective memory recall"?
N.J. - while I don't think you were qualified for the position you held, I think you got treated unfairly. I think they were trying to set you up (again) with the missing files.
Would be interesting to know if they were found in a "white trash bag" in the storage area!!!!!
And yes, you did the right thing by resigning. Whatever the reason, it was the right thing to do.