Video: Oktibbeha County Justice Court Judge Dies

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STARKVILLE, Miss.(WCBI)–Well known Oktibbeha County District Two Justice Court Judge Bernard Crump passed away at his home today[Tuesday].

A father, politician, seasoned professional, and church leader is being remembered by those who knew and loved him.

“I knew Judge Crump before he got elected but I knew him much better after he was elected for a few years,” said Dolph Bryan/Former Oktibbeha County Sheriff.

“Rather than just a colleagues we also actually were family friends. Its interesting there is bit of an age difference a little bit. But his wife and my wife actually taught school together. And our oldest daughter adopted them as her surrogate grandparents,” said Embra Jackson/Dist. Supt. United Methodist Church.

Presiding as justice court judge, Crump worked closely with the sheriff’s department.

“We had several cases, high profile cases, that Judge Crump was involved in. He always just you know tried to be fair to everybody and just a good honest straight forward person,” said Dolph Bryan.

For 20 years Crump served as Superintendent and Pastor of United Methodist Churches in the Starkville area. At a time when there was division along racial lines, it was Crump who helped merge and unite conference members leading his denomination on the district level.

“Some of them were not very receptive at first, but before he ended his tenure I heard some of them say fairly recently that he was the best superintendent they’d ever had. And they would welcome him as their pastor at any time,” said Embra Jackson.

“I’m sorry to see Judge Crump go. The city of Starkville has lost a very fine citizen,” said Dolph Bryan.

Crump, who served for 30 years, recently ran an unsuccessful campaign for re-election.

He died on his 79th birthday.