Charlie Passieu created a legacy as Mayor of Folkston from the 1920s until the 1960s.

Photo shows the late State Senator, Charlie Smith, Sr. (left) presenting a State of Georgia Check to Folkston Mayor Charlie Passieu (right) in the 1960s. The two Charlies created legacies on the political scenes in Southeast Georgia as they worked together for Folkston's municipal improvements.

Charles Joseph Passieu had seen his businesses survive during the darkest days of the Great Depression. The mayor used the same methods to make sure the City of Folkston could afford to continue operating. The Pennsylvania native had first moved south at the turn of the 20^th Century, locating first in Hilliard, Florida where he operated a General Store.

Born in 1890, Passieu moved into Folkston and opened a Ford Dealership in partnership with L. E. Mallard on Folkston's Main Street, in a building located where Chesser Sales and Service is located today.

When a City of Folkston project was completed under the leadership of long-time Mayor Charlie Passieu, some called it "Passieuized". They were referring to the frugal methods of Passieu in financing the project. There were few federal or state grants in those years.

The Ford Dealership of Passieu and Mallard lasted but a few years. Passieu objected when Mallard, an ardent trader, took horses and mules in on trade for a new Ford. Passieu objected violently and made Mallard a Buy or Sell proposition. Mallard sold and the Business was named Passieu Ford.

Passieu continued to sell Fords until 1936, then changing over to a Chevrolet Agency when Fords came out with its V-8 motors.

Passieu Chevrolet Company became a Folkston landmark on the town's Main Street. Largely because of the frugal management of Passieu, the Chevrolet dealer prospered throughout the lean years of the country's worse-ever economic depression. A former parts salesman told that Passieu required him to use both sides of adding machine tapes to cut costs. Repairs to his garage and showroom saw Passieu using whatever materials he had on hand.

It was during the war years of World War Two that the ardent patriotism of Passieu came to light. He took it upon himself to spread word of the battle action to other Main Street merchants. When the Allies landed on the beaches of Normandy in France on June 6, 1944, Passieu, with an unusual broad smile, burst into the front doors of other merchants to announce "Our boys have landed!. He had a son, Louie, in the Pacific on a B-29 bomber, flying dangerous bombing missions into Japanese held islands, and into Japan itself.

Passieu had become mayor when Mayor Dr. Jim Sawyer was called into service during that war. Passieu carefully looked over all the activities of the town, then under a thousand citizens.

However, the frugal business spending of Passieu did not extend into his personal life. An ardent member of the Folkston Masonic Lodge, Passieu spent freely of his ample funds when attending conventions, often buying meals for other hometown folk who appeared at the meetings.

Passieu built the Ritz Theater on Main Street in the late 1930s, leasing it to a Jacksonville Theater operator, Joseph Hackle, to operate. The old Ritz became the entertainment center for miles around showing movies every day but Sunday. Gone With The Wind was showed in Folkston soon after its release in 1939. When the Ritz needed repairs, Passieu could be found atop the marquee, pouring tar and nailing down boards that had come loose. When he applied stucco on the front of the theater he chose to spray the finish with dots of gold paint. He used a Flit insect spray can to apply the gold dots. The results looked professional.

When his town needed a caution traffic signal at the west end of Kingsland Drive, Passieu built one using a 5 gallon oil can, cutting holes for the lights and making it flash on and off with a Christmas Tree Light flasher. That too, looked professional.

Passieu continued to be Folkston's Mayor until the 1960s. During his final years in office, Passieu took a long vacation to go to France, the home of his ancestors. The town flourished under his leadership with minimum costs to Folkston taxpayers.

Passieu, together with his son Louie, after his safe return from World War Two actions, and his son-in-law, L. D. Majors, continued to operate his Passieu Chevrolet Company in a new building on U. S. One South in Folkston. The business there set sales records for small Chevrolet dealers and it continued to prosper until it was sold.

Soon after stepping down from his position as Mayor of Folkston, Charles Joseph Passieu died in 1968. His legacy continues today for many progressive programs put into play by the popular Passieu.