Former Lee County Sheriff Larry Presley dies

By WILLIAM MOORE Daily Journal
djr-2023-04-01-news-larry-presley-twp6

TUPELO – Veteran law enforcement officer Larry Wayne Presley, who rose to the top of both the Tupelo Police Department and the Lee County Sheriff's Office, died Thursday night.

Presley, 78, passed away in his home peacefully after an extended illness.

An east Tupelo native, Presley served two years in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War, before returning home and later going to work for the Tupelo Police Department.

"I started in 1976 in the patrol division and on my first day on the job we had a bank robbery," he recalled in a 2001 interview with the Daily Journal.

About three months later, the first time he worked the night shift he was shot after he pulled over a car.

"The guy was wanted for forgery," Presley said in 2016. "I asked him to get out of the car and he reached under the seat. I dove in the window to stop him. During the struggle, he saw my gun and ended up shooting me in the arm."

Over the next 25 years there were plenty of promotions and accolades. He started as a patrolman and retired as a Major overseeing the patrol division.

After just three years on the job, he was named the department's officer of the year. In 1989 and 1990, he was named the Mississippi Law Enforcement Officer of the Year. The second honor came after Presley saved an unconscious car crash victim who was trapped inside a burning vehicle.

He had been retired about a year from TPD when his brother, Lee County Sheriff Harold Ray Presley, was shot and killed in the line of duty. Presley won the special election and filled out the remaining two years of his late brother's term.

After leaving the sheriff's office in 2004, Presley volunteered his time in the community and with the East Main Church of Christ, where he served as a deacon. He also served on the Tupelo Police Citizens Advisory Board.

His funeral is scheduled for Monday April 3 at 2 p.m. Lee Memorial Funeral Home is handling the arrangements entrusted with the arrangements.
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Larry Wayne Presley, 78, passed away in his home peacefully after an extended illness. He was born on January 1, 1945, in East Tupelo to the late Noah Edward Presley and Christine Houston Presley.

He was a United States Army veteran during the Vietnam War and stationed in Korea 1965-1967. He was a law enforcement officer, serving more than 27 years in the profession. He served as a Tupelo Police Officer from 1972-1996 and retired as Major of the Patrol Division. Following the murder of his brother, Sheriff Harold Ray Presley, in July of 2001, he was elected Lee County Sheriff and served the remainder of Harold Ray's term until 2004. He was nominated and selected as the State of Mississippi Law Enforcement Officer of the Year in 1990 after saving an unconscious and trapped automobile crash victim from a burning vehicle. Additionally, he was recognized as the Lee County Courier's "Best of the Best" Law Enforcement Officer 2001-2004. Following his law enforcement service, he volunteered his time as a selected member of the Tupelo Police Citizens Advisory Board. He was passionate about serving his community and loving his neighbor. He was a faithful member of the East Main Church of Christ in Tupelo, MS where he previously served as a deacon.

Visitation will be from 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm; funeral services will follow 2:00 pm Monday, April 3, 2023 at Lee Memorial Funeral Home with Minister Barry Kennedy officiating.Burial will be in the Lee Memorial Park. Lee Memorial Funeral Home is entrusted with the arrangements.

He is survived by his daughter, Caryn Hood of Tupelo; his son, Marcus (Amy) Presley of Bentonville, Arkansas; brother, James Roy (Barbara) Presley; sister, Norma Riley; grand-children, Elizabeth, Jonathan (Jennifer), Sam, Joseph, Ella, Anna Averi, and Jack; nieces and nephews, Dennis, Kevin (Beth), Kirk (Dixie), Ricky (Linda Bob), Kristi (David), Kitzi (David), Joey (Tina), Brenda (David), Cathy, Greg, Greta, Brandon, Brad, Jada, and Wendy; as well as three great grandchildren whom he adored.

He is preceded in death by his father, mother, and 15 brothers and sisters, Harold Ray, Bobby Gene, Arnold, Eva, Mary Jo, Sales, Doc, Ruble, Goble, Sedera, Eack, Whit, Sump, Fred, and Vona Mae.

Pallbearers will be the Honor Guard from the Lee County Sheriff's Department. Honorary pallbearers will be the employees of the Tupelo Police Department and Lee County Sheriff's Department.

Published by The Daily Journal on 1APR 2023

NOTE: I do not endorse the comments made by others in regard to Larry Presley or the Presley family. On an attached photo, and on Family Search, the caption alludes that because the deceased person had a photo of John Wallace in his personal effects, that he was related to John Wallace.

If I have a photograph of King Kong in my personal effects when I die, does that make me related to King Kong?? I do not know why the McFadden family continues to attack the Presley family and claim that Rosella Presley had an affair with a married man, John Wallace. The Presley family members that I know, do not and would not have affairs.

Remember "King Kong"…

The person making such comments about my family also states she is the illegitimate daughter of Elvis, without proof of lineage. Please disregard such poor choices of statements and conclusions by others that were not born and raised a Presley when doing true genealogy research.

Find a Grave Memorial #251523954 LARRY WAYNE PRESLEY by Donny Jumper on 1 APR 2023 and transferred to and maintained by Suzanne E. Presley.

Last update 31 JAN 2024