Former Brookhaven Mayor Houston Case passed away at approximately 11 p.m. Thursday at 100 years of age, a family member said.

     A memorial service has not been scheduled yet, but family members said it will probably be near the end of next week.

     Case had given many years of involvement in the community.

     He served as mayor from 1973 until 1977. That followed an earlier tenure on the city council as an alderman from 1948 until 1952.

     As alderman, Case spearheaded a project to build an airport in Brookhaven, an airport that continues to operate and expand.

     During his time as mayor, Delphi Packard (then Packard Electric) located in Brookhaven.

     Case was also active in the business community, serving two terms as president of the local chamber of commerce. He owned a service station for some years.

     Brookhaven’s former state representative Dr. Jim Barnett was a longtime friend of Case, a friendship he cherished.

     “I’ve know him for 50 years,” Barnett said. “A wonderful, wonderful man.”

     Barnett last saw Case only a week ago.

     “We talked about flying mostly,” Barnett said. “We used to fly together a lot.”

     The two men flew together all over the United States, Barnett said.

     Barnett described Case as a good mayor whose tenure was not marred by discord.

     “I do not remember anyone ever criticizing him for what he did as mayor,” Barnett said. “I don’t remember any fights. He was so well respected.”

     Commenting on both his time as an elected official and a leader of the business community, Barnett said Case was driven by a desire to see Brookhaven succeed.

     “He would do anything to give progress to the community,” Barnett said.

     Case celebrated his 100th birthday last October with a gathering of family and friends. Case was born, as he put it, “out in the country” near Brookhaven and spent all of his life in the area.

     In an interview last year before his birthday, Case provided an insight into his motivation to serve the community.

     “I just like to see things done in the city,” Case said.