Former Cumberland County commissioner and sheriff dies at 88
A former Cumberland County sheriff, commissioner and longtime local businessman died early Monday morning at his home in California, his family said.
Roger Morris Bedsole, Sr., 88, died of natural causes at the San Marcos, California, home he shared with his wife of 38 years, Donna Sue Bedsole.
Born Jan. 31, 1935, in Elizabethtown, Morris Bedsole, as he was known, was the son of Sidney Averitte Bedsole and Ruby Dunham Bedsole.
Bedsole was a Cumberland County commissioner from 1980 through 1987. As chairman of the commission, he cast the tie-breaking vote to make himself sheriff after Ottis Jones, who'd served in the role since 1972, died. Bedsole told the Observer in 1987 that he got into politics at the urging of Jones.
Despite not ever having attended basic law enforcement training, Bedsole won election to the seat in 1990 and served until 1994 when he announced his semi-retirement. During his time as sheriff, he was elected as president of the N.C. Sheriff’s Association in 1993.
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In 1992, Bedsole hired the first female jailer, Anne Campbell, to work in Cumberland County. Campbell said Tuesday by phone from her home in Arkansas that Bedsole saw her worth within the Sheriff's Office.
"For the first time, someone knew what I could do and recognized I could do more," she said.
Bedsole is also credited with assigning Janet Smith as the first woman to serve as a patrol platoon sergeant.
In 1994, he told The Fayetteville Observer he was proud of his work to help children — pushing anti-drug programs and assigning deputies to county schools.
Bedsole's stepson Tommy Starling said his stepfather was a kind man who was there for Starling throughout his childhood.
"He stepped in and raised me. He taught me a lot about hard work," Starling said.
Bedsole's wife, Donna, said she shared her husband's love of the Cumberland County community. She assisted him in heading the Red Ribbon anti-drug campaign during his years as sheriff. She said he always made sure to show his appreciation for his employees.
"He fought hard for his employees," she said. "He wanted to make sure they were recognized for their work."
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Bedsole was best known as the owner of Bedsole’s Pig-N-Chicken and Bedsole’s Lakeside Dining.
"Starting new businesses and cooking was a labor of love for him and a passion he continued late into life," his obituary said.
In addition to his wife and stepson, Bedsole is survived by his sister Elizabeth "Tootsie" Bowen; his children, Debbie Dean, Roger Bedsole, Jr., Charlie Bedsole and their mother Sarah Bolton Bedsole, Tommy Starling, and Brandon Starling; 13 grandchildren, Michael, Donna Lynn, Roger III, Chrissy, Chase, Matthew, Tyler, Carrigan, Braxton, Mackie, Layla, Jesse, and Kaedon; 18 great-grandchildren; four great-great-grandchildren; and his "sweet dog" Gidget.
A memorial service is Dec. 8 at Southview Baptist Church, 4089 Elk Road in Hope Mills. Visitation is 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. immediately followed by the service at 1 p.m.
Public safety reporter Joseph Pierre can be reached at jpierre@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: Morris Bedsole former Cumberland County, NC sheriff, commissioner dies
