Cleveland County is mourning the loss of County Judge Jimmy Dale Adair, who passed away Friday night while hospitalized, county officials confirmed Saturday morning.
Cleveland County Clerk Brandy Herring told the Cleveland County Herald that she was notified of Adair’s passing by members of his family earlier in the day.
Adair had been appointed county judge in September to complete the unexpired term of the late Judge Jimmy Cummings, who died in August 2025. His appointment was scheduled to run through Dec. 31, 2026.
With Adair’s passing, county leaders are now faced with filling the vacancy in the county’s top executive office. The matter is expected to be addressed during the Cleveland County Quorum Court’s regularly scheduled meeting at 6 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 5. The meeting will be held at the Hall-Morgan Veterans Building in Rison.
Further details regarding funeral arrangements and the process to appoint a new county judge have not yet been released.
