The police radio crackled, there was light static: "Gadsden to Gadsden One, W.A. Woodham" "Gadsden to Gadsden One, W.A. Woodham" "Gadsden to Gadsden One, W.A. Woodham" Silence "Gadsden One is 10-87". In law enforcement language, it means out of service. And that is how Sheriff W.A. Woodham, 63, the Sheriff of Gadsden County for the past 33 years until his retirement five months ago, was signed off the air permanently at Hillcrest Cemetery. A cool breeze stirred as bagpipes played, as eight of his deputies carried his body up a grassy knoll on the north side of the cemetery to its final resting place. Muffled sobs and tears were shed as WALTER DOVER sang a stirring rendition of Vince Gill's "Go Rest High On That Mountain." Hundreds of people attended the 2 p.m. services at First Presbyterian Church.
Law enforcement officers from throughout the state came to pay their respects to the man who was the Dean of the Florida Sheriff's Association. There were seven current sheriffs and five retired sheriffs as well as many state and local elected officials. The short service was marked with fond memories of Woodham by two close friends, Alvin Pickels, Woodham's former chief deputy, and the Honorable James Harold Thompson, former Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives. "He had a great sense of humor, he loved everybody," Thompson said. He likened Woodham to three institutions: the political institution, a law enforcement institution and a humanitarian. "Politically, you don't stay in office 33 years without doing something right. He campaigned a little bit every day, he understood politics," he said. Thompson said he watched Woodham enter a room and if there were any children they would gravitate to him. To illustrate, Thompson read a poem Woodham's grandson, Will, wrote to him when he was six years old. It was entitled "My Hero." Having served more than three decades in law enforcement, Thompson said Woodham was an institution who took his performance on the job seriously. "He knew when to talk to people and he knew when he had to so something else," Thompson said. He said that Woodham visited nursing homes on a regular basis to visit.
"Let's let his light shine through us," he said Pickles said Woodham was a close family man who was always looking for ways to help his three daughters. He had a heart of gold and was always looking for ways to help young people. He always hired high school and college kids around the office. He saw the best in everyone,'' he said. He is survived by his wife, Karen; three daughters, Amy Joe Dunbar and husband Matt, and Emily Woodham, both of Charlotte, N.C.; and Laurie Beth Woodham of Tampa; a brother, Felton Woodham and wife Jean of Dothan, AL; two grandchildren, Will and Lindsey Dunbar, both of Charlotte, NC; a nephew Wade Woodham and wife Jamie of Dothan; a
niece, Charla and husband Dr. Terry Day of St. Petersburg; and two grandnieces, Lilla Woodham of Dothan and Kylle Day of St.Petersburg.
Law enforcement officers from throughout the state came to pay their respects to the man who was the Dean of the Florida Sheriff's Association. There were seven current sheriffs and five retired sheriffs as well as many state and local elected officials. The short service was marked with fond memories of Woodham by two close friends, Alvin Pickels, Woodham's former chief deputy, and the Honorable James Harold Thompson, former Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives. "He had a great sense of humor, he loved everybody," Thompson said. He likened Woodham to three institutions: the political institution, a law enforcement institution and a humanitarian. "Politically, you don't stay in office 33 years without doing something right. He campaigned a little bit every day, he understood politics," he said. Thompson said he watched Woodham enter a room and if there were any children they would gravitate to him. To illustrate, Thompson read a poem Woodham's grandson, Will, wrote to him when he was six years old. It was entitled "My Hero." Having served more than three decades in law enforcement, Thompson said Woodham was an institution who took his performance on the job seriously. "He knew when to talk to people and he knew when he had to so something else," Thompson said. He said that Woodham visited nursing homes on a regular basis to visit.
"Let's let his light shine through us," he said Pickles said Woodham was a close family man who was always looking for ways to help his three daughters. He had a heart of gold and was always looking for ways to help young people. He always hired high school and college kids around the office. He saw the best in everyone,'' he said. He is survived by his wife, Karen; three daughters, Amy Joe Dunbar and husband Matt, and Emily Woodham, both of Charlotte, N.C.; and Laurie Beth Woodham of Tampa; a brother, Felton Woodham and wife Jean of Dothan, AL; two grandchildren, Will and Lindsey Dunbar, both of Charlotte, NC; a nephew Wade Woodham and wife Jamie of Dothan; a
niece, Charla and husband Dr. Terry Day of St. Petersburg; and two grandnieces, Lilla Woodham of Dothan and Kylle Day of St.Petersburg.
The police radio crackled, there was light static: "Gadsden to Gadsden One, W.A. Woodham" "Gadsden to Gadsden One, W.A. Woodham" "Gadsden to Gadsden One, W.A. Woodham" Silence "Gadsden One is 10-87". In law enforcement language, it means out of service. And that is how Sheriff W.A. Woodham, 63, the Sheriff of Gadsden County for the past 33 years until his retirement five months ago, was signed off the air permanently at Hillcrest Cemetery. A cool breeze stirred as bagpipes played, as eight of his deputies carried his body up a grassy knoll on the north side of the cemetery to its final resting place. Muffled sobs and tears were shed as WALTER DOVER sang a stirring rendition of Vince Gill's "Go Rest High On That Mountain." Hundreds of people attended the 2 p.m. services at First Presbyterian Church.
Law enforcement officers from throughout the state came to pay their respects to the man who was the Dean of the Florida Sheriff's Association. There were seven current sheriffs and five retired sheriffs as well as many state and local elected officials. The short service was marked with fond memories of Woodham by two close friends, Alvin Pickels, Woodham's former chief deputy, and the Honorable James Harold Thompson, former Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives. "He had a great sense of humor, he loved everybody," Thompson said. He likened Woodham to three institutions: the political institution, a law enforcement institution and a humanitarian. "Politically, you don't stay in office 33 years without doing something right. He campaigned a little bit every day, he understood politics," he said. Thompson said he watched Woodham enter a room and if there were any children they would gravitate to him. To illustrate, Thompson read a poem Woodham's grandson, Will, wrote to him when he was six years old. It was entitled "My Hero." Having served more than three decades in law enforcement, Thompson said Woodham was an institution who took his performance on the job seriously. "He knew when to talk to people and he knew when he had to so something else," Thompson said. He said that Woodham visited nursing homes on a regular basis to visit.
"Let's let his light shine through us," he said Pickles said Woodham was a close family man who was always looking for ways to help his three daughters. He had a heart of gold and was always looking for ways to help young people. He always hired high school and college kids around the office. He saw the best in everyone,'' he said. He is survived by his wife, Karen; three daughters, Amy Joe Dunbar and husband Matt, and Emily Woodham, both of Charlotte, N.C.; and Laurie Beth Woodham of Tampa; a brother, Felton Woodham and wife Jean of Dothan, AL; two grandchildren, Will and Lindsey Dunbar, both of Charlotte, NC; a nephew Wade Woodham and wife Jamie of Dothan; a
niece, Charla and husband Dr. Terry Day of St. Petersburg; and two grandnieces, Lilla Woodham of Dothan and Kylle Day of St.Petersburg.
Law enforcement officers from throughout the state came to pay their respects to the man who was the Dean of the Florida Sheriff's Association. There were seven current sheriffs and five retired sheriffs as well as many state and local elected officials. The short service was marked with fond memories of Woodham by two close friends, Alvin Pickels, Woodham's former chief deputy, and the Honorable James Harold Thompson, former Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives. "He had a great sense of humor, he loved everybody," Thompson said. He likened Woodham to three institutions: the political institution, a law enforcement institution and a humanitarian. "Politically, you don't stay in office 33 years without doing something right. He campaigned a little bit every day, he understood politics," he said. Thompson said he watched Woodham enter a room and if there were any children they would gravitate to him. To illustrate, Thompson read a poem Woodham's grandson, Will, wrote to him when he was six years old. It was entitled "My Hero." Having served more than three decades in law enforcement, Thompson said Woodham was an institution who took his performance on the job seriously. "He knew when to talk to people and he knew when he had to so something else," Thompson said. He said that Woodham visited nursing homes on a regular basis to visit.
"Let's let his light shine through us," he said Pickles said Woodham was a close family man who was always looking for ways to help his three daughters. He had a heart of gold and was always looking for ways to help young people. He always hired high school and college kids around the office. He saw the best in everyone,'' he said. He is survived by his wife, Karen; three daughters, Amy Joe Dunbar and husband Matt, and Emily Woodham, both of Charlotte, N.C.; and Laurie Beth Woodham of Tampa; a brother, Felton Woodham and wife Jean of Dothan, AL; two grandchildren, Will and Lindsey Dunbar, both of Charlotte, NC; a nephew Wade Woodham and wife Jamie of Dothan; a
niece, Charla and husband Dr. Terry Day of St. Petersburg; and two grandnieces, Lilla Woodham of Dothan and Kylle Day of St.Petersburg.
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