CANTON — Judge Frank C. Mills III will be leaving his seat on the bench as a Superior Court judge at the end of the month. But his name will stick around at Cherokee County’s justice center for a long time.

The Cherokee County Board of the Commissioners voted Tuesday night to rename the center as the Frank C. Mills III Justice Center.

Mills has been a Superior Court judge in the Blue Ridge Judicial Circuit since 1981.

Before becoming a judge, Mills was appointed District Attorney of the Blue Ridge Judicial Circuit in 1978 after working as assistant DA in the circuit.

He was later reelected to that position before being appointed to the Superior Court bench.

He was elected to the Superior Court seat eight times over nearly 32 years.

Mills has been an active volunteer with Boy Scouts of America, serving as assistant Scoutmaster for Boy Scout Troop 241.

The commission voted unanimously to rename the justice center. Commissioner Harry Johnston read a proclamation to rename the center in Mills’ honor, explaining that the county commission had asked members of the legal community for their input on renaming the North Street building.

“The response was overwhelmingly positive,” Johnston said before reading the proclamation.

After the proclamation was read, Mills said he has been fortunate to work with the legal community in Cherokee County.

“Really all I’ve done is what judges do every day. I am honored and humbled to accept this, but I’m not sure I deserve it,” he said.