Former Richmond County Sheriff Charles B. Webster will be laid to rest in a simple graveside service.
Webster, who died at his home Saturday, wanted it that way, said his friend Sheriff Ronnie Strength.
“He and I probably went to 200 funerals over the years,” Strength said. “He always said when his time came he wanted a graveside service. That was him.”
Strength said there will be no speakers, other than the Rev. Jerry Wilson, who has been asked to conduct the service. Strength also doesn’t expect a long funeral procession of police cars to the cemetery.
“He would not have wanted any of that,” the sheriff said. “The only escorts from the funeral home will be the family and active and honorary pallbearers.”
There will be a crowd, however. Strength said calls have been coming in from across the state inquiring about the funeral arrangements.
Webster, who served as sheriff from 1984 to 2000, was liked and respected well beyond Richmond County, Strength said.
“He was involved in a lot of other things around the state,” he said. “Most of the sheriffs he worked with when he was in office have retired, but we’ve still been getting a lot of calls.”
According to his obituary, the graveside service will begin at 11 a.m. Tuesday.
Pallbearers will be Strength, Freddie Sanders, Duncan Fordham, Lee Ready, Gene Johnson, Jimmy Drew, Kenny Miles and Homer Moxley Jr. Honorary pallbearers will be John Hardin, Judge William Fleming, Judge Daniel Craig, Joel Avery, Felix Patrick, Jimmy Norris, Whitey Lester, the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office and members of the Georgia Sheriffs’ Association.
