Jimmy Dukes was sworn in as deputy coroner of Newton County Feb. 9 at the Newton County Judicial Center.

Probate Judge Henry Baker performed the ceremony in the office of the Probate Court while current coroner Tommy Davis, who appointed Dukes to the position, and recently retired coroner Bob Wheeler witnessed.

Dukes is originally from Thomasville and served as deputy coroner there as well. He has been a resident of Newton County for two years and works at Harwell-Wheeler Funeral Home. He has a wife and child and is the president-elect of the Kiwanis Club of Covington.