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Ernie Lee Magaha, Former Escambia Clerk Of The Court, Passes Away
June 19, 2019
Former Escambia County Clerk of the Court Ernie Lee Magaha, Sr. passed away Tuesday. He was 91.
Magaha was born in Jay, raised in Mosquito Flats near Century, and graduated from Century High School. He served in the Merchant Marines and graduated from Auburn University with a degree in economics in 1950.
He served as a state auditor for five years and resigned in 1956 to run for the clerk of the court of record. At that time, he and his wife, Lucile, spearheaded a grassroots campaign and literally walked the county for a successful election in November 1956 as she was expecting their first child.
Magaha took office in January of 1957 and has held the position of clerk until 2012. His office was instrumental in the smooth transition of the court system in 1972 to the two-tier system in place today. In 1995, then Governor Lawton Chiles asked him to assume the additional responsibilities of the comptroller’s office.
Escambia County’s governmental hub is named in his honor – the Ernie Lee Magaha Governmental Complex.
Visitation will be held 9 a.m. until the funeral service to begins at 10 a.m. Friday at the First Baptist Church, Pleitz Chapel with Dr. Dave Snyder and Rev. Walt Magaha officiating. A private family burial will follow at Holy Cross Cemetery.
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10 Responses to “Ernie Lee Magaha, Former Escambia Clerk Of The Court, Passes Away”
He was the Step Son of J A Williams and Step brother to Jim, Gene and Ronnie Williams, all deceased.
Mr. Ernie Magaha was the consummate statesman and a gentleman of high caliber. My mother and father knew him well and considered him a wonderful and valued friend. He possessed solid moral character, a gift for fairness and honesty and a dedication to his job not seen anymore these days. We will always remember him fondly. May God give his family strength, grace and peace during this time of mourning.
Rest In Peace Sir, you have definitely deserved it. Thank you for your Service to Escambia County. Thought and Love to your Family and Friends.
One of the better people.
Ernie Lee was a friend of mine and my family for many years. He was a tremendous elected official and statesman. He will be missed by many people. May the good Lord bless and guide his family during this time of loss for them. Rest in peace my friend.
Rest in peace mr. Magaha. I wish I could have seen you before you passed. I enjoyed caring for you when you was here with your family and loved ones. My condolencesand and prayers go out to the family,loved ones, any long term caregivers.
Great Man rest in peace.
Rest In Peace…..I owe you a debt of gratitude and I remember to this day, your kindness towards us.
I never met Ernie Lee Magaha, but I heard his name quite a bit in court in the late 80s and early 90’s when I was getting myself in trouble in my late teens and early 20s. I never knew he was from Century! Sorry to hear his passing and prayers for the family.
A lifetime of service to Pensacola…Thank you… Rest in Peace…