Former elections board director Zelma Furnish dies at 85
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Former Highland County Board of Elections Director Zelma Furnish has passed away.
The longtime local official and Democratic State Central Committee member for the 17th Senatorial District was 85.
Mrs. Furnish served for many years at the director and the deputy director for the Highland County Board of Elections.
In addition, she served on the Democratic State Central Committee for more than 20 years, where she represented 10 counties: Highland, Clinton, Fayette, Pickaway, Ross, Pike, Vinton, Jackson, and Gallia, and part of Lawrence County.
She was the Board of Elections director for 10 years and served 29 years as deputy director.
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"Zelma exemplified public service and loyalty to her party," said Highland County Democratic Party chairperson Dinah Phillips. "She was so good to work with. If we had an event coming up, she would make 50 to 100 calls to be sure people showed up. We've been so blessed to live in a community with people like Zelma.
"This is a real loss to Highland County and southern Ohio," Phillips said. "My thoughts and prayers go out to her family."
Mrs. Furnish was a member of the Federated Democratic Women of Ohio and an honorary member of the Highland County Trustees and Clerks' Association.
She was a member of the Hillsboro Women's Club and a member of the Hillsboro First Baptist Church.
She also served as secretary of the Highland County Democratic Executive Committee for 28 years. She was member of the Highland County Democratic Womens' Club and the County Central Committee and Executive Committee.
She lived in Hillsboro with her husband, Bill, who survives. Also surviving are sons, Gary and Brent; four grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
The Turner Funeral Home in Hillsboro is serving the family.
The longtime local official and Democratic State Central Committee member for the 17th Senatorial District was 85.
Mrs. Furnish served for many years at the director and the deputy director for the Highland County Board of Elections.
In addition, she served on the Democratic State Central Committee for more than 20 years, where she represented 10 counties: Highland, Clinton, Fayette, Pickaway, Ross, Pike, Vinton, Jackson, and Gallia, and part of Lawrence County.
She was the Board of Elections director for 10 years and served 29 years as deputy director.
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"Zelma exemplified public service and loyalty to her party," said Highland County Democratic Party chairperson Dinah Phillips. "She was so good to work with. If we had an event coming up, she would make 50 to 100 calls to be sure people showed up. We've been so blessed to live in a community with people like Zelma.
"This is a real loss to Highland County and southern Ohio," Phillips said. "My thoughts and prayers go out to her family."
Mrs. Furnish was a member of the Federated Democratic Women of Ohio and an honorary member of the Highland County Trustees and Clerks' Association.
She was a member of the Hillsboro Women's Club and a member of the Hillsboro First Baptist Church.
She also served as secretary of the Highland County Democratic Executive Committee for 28 years. She was member of the Highland County Democratic Womens' Club and the County Central Committee and Executive Committee.
She lived in Hillsboro with her husband, Bill, who survives. Also surviving are sons, Gary and Brent; four grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
The Turner Funeral Home in Hillsboro is serving the family.