There’s a hole in Wythe County’s law enforcement.
Retired Lt. Dewey Clemons Jr. died Saturday, April 22, 2023.
Clemons served as a patrolman, patrol sergeant, investigator and detective. He had been a law enforcement in almost every topic, working at the New River Criminal Justice Training Academy.
Clemons will be remembered by generations of football players in several counties. He coached football at Fort Chiswell Middle and High schools, Pulaski High School and George Wythe High School.
Clemons took an early retirement from the Wytheville Police Department after 30 years of service on Aug. 2, 2019, due to an inoperable brain tumor. He had battled four types of cancer since 2018.
He was born Friday, July 25, 1969, a son of Dewey Sr. and Juanita Clemons.
A 1987 graduate of George Wythe High School, Clemons went on to earn a political science degree from Wytheville Community College and a Bachelor’s of Science degree in criminal justice from Bluefield College. He was also a graduate of the New River Criminal Justice Training Academy.
Clemons was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents Dewey Edmond “Sonny” and Vivian Lucille “Lucy” Clemons; maternal grandparents Jesse Baine and Annie Cannoy Cress; father-in-law Stanley Crockett; and co-worker and friend Phillip Shuler.
He is survived by his wife of 32 years, Angie; his parents; sister and brother-in-law Kim and Matt Haga; niece Kylie; sister-in-law and brother-in-law Peggy and Bruce Thomas; and mother-in-law Eva Crockett.
The family requests that in lieu of flowers memorial donations be made to Hospice of Southwest Virginia, 1155 N. 4th St. Wytheville, VA 24382 or to the Crockett Family Cemetery in care of Adair King, 1522 Ridge Ave., Crockett VA 24323.
Pallbearers will be cousin Ronnie Crigger, dear friends Tommy Atkins, Bryan Bard, Brian Evans, David “Chico” Cole, Randy Kirby, Daniel Hamm and Troy Dwayne Black.
A visitation for family and friends will be held on Wednesday, April 26, from noon to 1 p.m. with a funeral service officiated by the Rev. Ted Anders following. Burial will be in Crockett Family Cemetery, Cripple Creek.
Barnett Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
