United States Army Veteran, Deacon Wayward Dempsey of 1902 South 13th Street, Cordele, Georgia died Saturday, September 10, 2022 at his residence.

The funeral service will be held Saturday, September 17, 2022 at 2:00 PM in the sanctuary of the Beulahland Baptist Church in Cordele, Georgia.  The burial, with military honors, will follow at the Sunnyside Cemetery in Cordele, Georgia.  Everyone in attendance is asked to please wear a mask and to practice social distancing.

Wayward Dempsey was born on December 25, 1948 in  Coney, Georgia to Lucious Dempsey and Ella Dennard Dempsey.  He was the third of five   children.

As a young man, Wayward attended the Beulahland Baptist Church. He received his high school diploma from the A. S. Clark High School in 1970.   After high school he joined the United States Army and served two years over in Frankfurt, Germany before earning an Honorable           discharge.

He returned to Cordele, Georgia and met Robbie Lue Adams Dempsey.  They were joined in holy matrimony on October 3, 1973.  During their beautiful marriage they had two children, Pamela Mishell Dempsey and Reco Rodrell Dempsey.

Wayward Dempsey loved God first, his family and community, and his Georgia sport teams.  His passion was working in his yard and planting flowers with his wife.

He leaves to cherish his memories, a devoted fiancé and partner, Ms. Leslie Bell.  He leaves to cherish and carry on his legacy, Mr. Reco Dempsey and his wife, Angela of Brandywine, Maryland; a very nurturing and loving niece/daughter, Tish Bivins and wife, Yolanda of Nashville, Tennessee;  three grandsons, who he adored, Jalen, Joshua, and Adric Dempsey of Brandywine, Maryland; three sisters, Janie Miller and Carrol Nadine Dempsey of Cordele, Georgia, and Brenda Sellers of Jacksonville,  Florida; three brothers, Harry Dempsey, Sr. of Chester, Pennsylvania, Alfred Dempsey of Byron, Georgia, and   Columbia Shiloh of Jacksonville, Florida; his nephews, Harry Jr. and Anthony Dempsey of Chester, Pennsylvania; a host of cousins, Gloria, Brenda, Travis, Mike, and Clisby Dennard all of Atlanta, Georgia; Toombs Jr. and Thomas Dennard of New York; three nieces, Cheryl Taylor, Vanessa Brown, and Valarie Clemmons; a childhood friend, Mr. Alphonso Simmons; a host of community friends, former    co-workers, classmates, and his Emmanuel Missionary Baptist Church Family.