Sheriff Henry Cullen Talton, Jr.

Sheriff Henry Cullen Talton, Jr. peacefully passed away on Saturday, October 19, 2024, surrounded by his loving family at the age of 92. His dedicated service as Sheriff of Houston County and law enforcement across Georgia spanned over five decades. Sheriff Talton was born on October 16, 1932, in Bonaire, Georgia, to the late Henry Cullen Talton, Sr. and Lois Ammons Talton.

Prior to his storied law enforcement career, Sheriff Talton embraced rural life as a dairy farmer, and later stepped into public service as a county commissioner. These early experiences grounded him in the values of hard work, dedication, and community support, shaping the leader he would become.

Elected as sheriff in 1972, Sheriff Talton has served 13 terms and was the nation’s longest-serving sheriff. He was known for his professional approach to law enforcement and was rarely seen wearing a badge or carrying a gun. Sheriff Talton believed in building relationships rooted in respect. His influence extended far beyond the sheriff's office as he actively contributed to various organizations, including serving on the Board of Directors for the Georgia Sheriffs’ Association and the Georgia Sheriffs’ Youth Homes.

Throughout his career, Sheriff Talton was honored with numerous awards that recognized his exceptional service, including the Golden Eagle Award in 2010, the Meritorious Service Master Award in 2022, and the President's Award from the Georgia Sheriffs’ Association. He received the Warner Robins/Houston County Chamber of Commerce Good Government Service Award, the Liberty Bell Award, and was named Sheriff of the Year in 2019. He also received special recognition multiple times for his tireless efforts in supporting the Georgia Sheriffs’ Youth Homes through fundraising initiatives such as hosting annual golf tournaments and recently had the sheriff’s department building named after him and dedicated to him.

In the days since his passing, heartfelt tributes have poured in from several dignitaries and from across the community, including reflections from current Georgia Governor Brian Kemp. Governor Kemp poignantly remarked, “For nearly 52 years, Sheriff Talton remained committed to serving and protecting the people of his community and became a beloved fixture of Georgia law enforcement.”

Sheriff Talton’s legacy of selfless service and dedication to his community will be cherished. He leaves behind a profound impact that will resonate for generations to come.

In addition to his parents, Sheriff Talton was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 68 years, Peggy Sears Talton.

His memory will forever be treasured by his devoted children; Carlene Talton of Decatur, Patty Redmond (Ed) of Marietta, Cully Talton of Perry, and Neal Talton (Ginger) of Bonaire; grandchildren, Kitt Orr (Brandon), Lindsey Farrar, Tal Talton (Amanda), Sydney Morstad; and 10 great-grandchildren; as well as several other beloved extended family members and friends.

Sheriff Talton will lie in state on Tuesday, October 22, 2024, from 10:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. at McCullough Funeral Home.

Afterward an escort for Sheriff Talton followed by a procession will take place at 3:00 p.m. from McCullough Funeral Home to Southside Baptist Church. The route will pass by the Sheriff H. Cullen Talton Jr. Building on Carl Vinson Parkway. To show respect for Sheriff Talton, the community has been invited to line the roadsides on Carl Vinson Parkway during the escort from Leverette Road to Russell Parkway during the time mentioned above.

Visitation will be held on Tuesday, October 22, 2024, from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Southside Baptist Church in Warner Robins. The funeral service honoring and celebrating Sheriff Talton’s life will follow on Wednesday, October 23, 2024, at 11:00 a.m. at Southside Baptist Church. Reverend Jerry Walls, Reverend Jim Perdue, and Reverend Fred McCoy will officiate. Honoring the Talton family’s wishes, Sheriff Talton will be laid to rest privately at Bonaire Cemetery. For friends unable to attend at this time, the service will be streamed live at Sheriff Talton's funeral service or via the McCullough Funeral Home Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/mcculloughfuneralhome/live/.

In lieu of flowers, the Talton family invites donations to be made in Sheriff Talton’s memory to the Georgia Sheriffs’ Youth Homes at 1000 Sheriffs Way, Madison, GA 30650.

Go to www.mcculloughfh.com to sign the Online Registry for the family. McCullough Funeral Home and Crematory has the privilege of being entrusted with these arrangements.

Portrait courtesy of Natrice Miller, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.