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By Alyssa Schnugg
staff writer
alyssa.schnugg@hottytoddy.com
Sheriff F.D. “Buddy” East was known to the residents of Lafayette County as the man who dedicated his life to keeping his community safe, a man who addressed everyone as ma’am or sir and a man who was “country as cornbread.”
To his daughter, Melissa East Westbrook he was and always will be known as “Daddy.”
“Growing up, he had three things he always told us – we were to always say ‘Yes, Ma’am,’ or Yes, Sir,’ to always mind our mother and make good grades in school,” Westbrook said Sunday morning while reminiscing about her father. “And that’s why his children are who we are today.”
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East, 76, died Saturday morning after a brief illness. He was surrounded by his family at Baptist Memorial Hospital-North Mississippi, Westbrook said.
The longest-serving sheriff in Mississippi, East was appointed sheriff in 1972 and has won every election since.
“Winning the election was the only thanks he ever needed,” said Westbrook, a senior examiner for the Mississippi Department of Public Safety’s Driver’s License Division in Oxford. “Knowing that the citizens thought he was doing a good job meant everything to him. He appreciated Lafayette County and the voters so much and their support throughout the years. He loved the people of Lafayette County so much and supported them, giving them a big part of his life.”
Before serving as sheriff, East served as the assistant to the Chief of Police for the Oxford Police Department and was in law enforcement since 1964. In 1991, he was named Oxford Citizen of the Year and in 2015 he was honored by the Lafayette County Law Enforcement Officers Association with the Medal of Valor and Unselfishness in the Face of Danger.
When he wasn’t responding to calls from the sheriff’s department, East was raising his children much like he served as sheriff – stern, fair and with love.
“He was a very hands-on father,” Westbrook said. “He was always there for us. He always told us he loved us. We never doubted that and we knew we were the center of his world.”
When his children were younger, he coached Little League, refereed at basketball games and umpired at baseball games.
“He loved those kids,” Westbrook said. “He loved mentoring and coaching.”
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During the last few years while East suffered back problems, sitting in the stands often was a challenge but that didn’t stop him from watching his grandchildren’s games.
“He would go to every sporting event he could,” Westbrook said. “If he couldn’t sit in the stand, you could see that sheriff’s car close by.”
East and several friends would gather at least once a week at each other’s houses to play cards while the wives cooked dinner.
“He would have played almost every night if he could,” Westbrook said. “It became his favorite pastime in recent years.”
However, law enforcement was his life, Westbrook said. In the early days, he would respond to every call he could.
“We would be all dressed and ready to go out and the phone would ring and he’d be gone,” Westbrook said. “He always said God was first, then family and then law enforcement. Being the sheriff meant everything to him. His image, and how people perceived him was very important to him.”
Westbrook said the support and love shown from the community since her father’s death has been overwhelming.
“I’m surprised my Facebook hasn’t crashed and my phone has been going off nonstop,” she said. “People loved him. Even the criminals and people in jail liked him because he was fair and treated everyone equally.”
Elections for sheriff will take place in 2019 and Westbrook said she is sure her father would have run again.
“He wanted one more turn,” she said. “And I can promise you this, he would have won.”
The funeral service for East will be Friday, Sept. 14, 2018, at 11 a.m. at North Oxford Baptist Church with the Revs. Randy Bain and Fish Robinson officiating. Burial will follow in Shiloh Cemetery.
Visitation will be Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018, from 2 p.m. until 8 p.m. at North Oxford Baptist Church and again prior to the service beginning at 10 a.m. at the church.
East is survived by his wife, Mary Hall East of Oxford; five children, Melissa Westbrook and her husband, Billy, Joey East and his wife, Kimberly, Shannon Lomax and her husband, Max, Steve Lewis and his wife, Melanie, all of Oxford; and Scott Lewis and his wife, Brandi of Dallas, TX; a sister, Nona Tutor of Oxford and thirteen grandchildren.
Read the full obituary for East here.
