STARKVILLE — Every time Pastor and Judge Larnzy Carpenter Jr. is about to take the bench, he has a few things he likes to do.

First, Carpenter always prays through a special prayer before entering the courtroom, to make sure his “mind, body and spirit is right.” Then, when he takes the bench, Carpenter asks the prosecutors, defense attorneys, and others in the room to smile at each other as a sign of respect. After that, Carpenter said he tries to only focus on the law.

“As a pastor, I do what the Lord says,” Carpenter told listeners Wednesday at the Oktibbeha County Heritage Museum. “I follow the Word. I’m pastoring there. I’m not in court. Because I don’t… use any words out of the Bible while I’m in court. And in court as a judge, I follow the law. And the law and the Lord’s Word work closely together.”

Carpenter’s path toward his unique dual role began early, as he signed up to join the U.S. Marine Corps at 16 years old. After graduating from Starkville High School, he went to boot camp and infantry training school, where the majority of his compatriots were preparing to go to Iran, he said. But Carpenter received a special assignment, joining the Presidential Honor Guard at the beginning of late President Ronald Reagan’s tenure.

“They needed people in Washington D.C. to guard the president,” Carpenter said. “At that time, President (Jimmy) Carter was in office, but President Ronald Reagan had just won. And my first assignment was President Reagan’s inauguration.”

During his time on the honor guard, Carpenter said, he had the “honor” of also escorting late First Lady Nancy Reagan while she was visiting the Pentagon.

After Carpenter left the Marine Corps, he worked for the District of Columbia Department of Corrections for seven years. During his time working with the inmates, Carpenter said he saw “everything you can imagine can transpire in a prison.”

But working for the Department of Corrections also led Carpenter to his wife, Melita. Together, the pair moved back to Starkville in 1980, Carpenter said, where he joined the Oktibbeha County Sheriff’s Department. A few months later, he moved over to work for the Starkville Police Department and led the D.A.R.E. program, encouraging kids to avoid drugs.

During the last few years of his tenure at SPD, Carpenter also started preaching at First Baptist Church of Longview, which he was eventually asked to pastor starting in July 2001.

Despite having plenty of responsibilities at the church, Carpenter also decided to run for county District 2 Justice Court Judge about 10 years ago, he said, encouraged by the late Judge Bernard Crump to pursue the position.

“I thought, being in law enforcement, I’d be the next chief of police or run for sheriff,” Carpenter said. “You know how it is, when your mind’s set. But we prayed about it, my wife and I, and the Lord showed me it’s time to go. And it was such an honor to run for that office, and to get it, and be able to serve our community.”

Carpenter now presides over cases involving civil actions, including recovery of debts, property damage and some criminal cases – though he only has the power to set fines up to $3,500 and jail sentences of up to six months.

While the cases Carpenter presides over may seem more minor than others, tensions can still arise in the courtroom. One case Carpenter remembered involved three sisters arguing for ownership of their mother’s ring after she passed away. Carpenter dismissed the case, allowing the sisters to discuss it for themselves outside of court, he said.

“It really hurts to see families being torn apart, but it gets to that point sometimes,” he said.

Still, Carpenter said, he is often reassured by the seal on the wall behind his seat, as it helps him to remember the importance of upholding the law.

“Because I’m the judge doesn’t mean I’m the most powerful person in the courtroom,” Carpenter said. “The courtroom doesn’t belong to me. It belongs to the people.”

Museum Director Derek Aaron said the museum was honored to have Carpenter come to speak as a part of its ongoing Community Event Series.

“I heard about his life and career from colleagues and that he is an exceptional speaker and we are not disappointed,” Aaron said.