Oktibbeha County’s District 2 Justice Court Judge W. Bernard Crump has died.
He was 79.
Funeral arrangements are unknown at this time.
Oktibbeha County Coroner Michael Hunt confirmed the death Tuesday morning and said Crump appeared to have died of natural causes.
Crump, who served his post for decades, was soon to move out of state to be closer to family members, officials with Justice Court said.
He lost the Aug. 4 Democratic Primary to Larnzy Carpenter after his opponent secured about 67 percent of the District 2 vote.
“Judge Crump was a great supporter – a faithful member – of the Oktibbeha County NAACP. We’re going to miss him as a chapter, as the Democratic Party and as the county as a whole,” said Oktibbeha County NAACP and Democratic Party leader Chris Taylor.
Carl Smith covers Starkville and Oktibbeha County for The Dispatch. Follow him on Twitter @StarkDispatch
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