Sumner County Sheriff Sonny Weatherford dies in East Tennessee; procession escorts him home to Gallatin

Sumner County Sheriff Roy “Sonny” Weatherford died Friday at the age of 65. A procession of law enforcement vehicles brought him home to Gallatin from Pigeon Forge, where Weatherford was attending the nearby 2024 Sheriffs’ Association Conference.

The long line of flashing blue lights passed by the sheriff’s office on Smith Street where law enforcement officers and community members gathered to honor Weatherford’s four decades of service to middle Tennessee. Weatherford’s cause of death has not been released, but a statement from law enforcement officials referred to his death as the result of a “sudden medical condition.”

“Sheriff Weatherford dedicated his life to the service and protection of our community, embodying the very essence of commitment, bravery, and integrity,” Sumner County Mayor John Isbell said in a statement. “In every action and decision, he demonstrated an unwavering commitment to justice and the well-being of every citizen.”

Isbell and other local leaders took to social media Friday to remember Weatherford’s legacy as “a great man and a wonderful leader,” according to a statement from the Hendersonville Police Department.

Weatherford graduated from Gallatin High School and Volunteer State Community College in the 1970s before starting his career in law enforcement with the Portland Police Department. He rose in the ranks from patrolman to sergeant and chief deputy within Sumner County, and in 2010, he became the county sheriff. Weatherford served as sheriff for 14 years.

Tennessee State Rep. Johnny Garrett called Weatherford a “steadfast public servant that dedicated his life protecting the citizens of Sumner County” and asked the community to join him in prayers for the family, including Weatherford’s wife Tammy and their two sons.

Tennessee Sheriffs’ Association employee Shelby Lee Schiavone said in a statement on social media that she was part of the procession that transported Weatherford across the state.

“From leaving the hospital in Knoxville to arriving in Gallatin, all I could think of was how my beloved Sheriff Sonny Weatherford, would so appreciate the honor from all agencies that helped escort him home,” she said.

Schiavone recounted vehicles that joined to escort the group through each county, officers standing in the rain to block traffic and people lined up on overpasses to honor Weatherford as the procession passed through.

“It was a sight that I will not forget,” she said. “It was one that puts a smile on your face while tears run down your cheeks.”

In the wake of Weatherford’s death, Chief Deputy Eric Craddock is leading the Sumner County Sheriff’s Office.

Hadley Hitson covers trending business, dining and health care for The Tennessean. She can be reached at hhitson@gannett.com. To support her work, subscribe to The Tennessean.