Lonny Scott Hempstead, 55, passed away on Tuesday, Aug. 10, in Perry, Fla., from a line of duty illness. Hempstead was born May 7, 1966, in Albany, N.Y., to Bill and Geraldine Sisson Adkins.
Hempstead graduated with the class of 1984 from Lafayette High School. After graduating, Hempstead became a solder in the Army National Guard and served the country during Operation Iraqi Freedom. He loved paying service to his country and being alongside his brothers and sisters in arms with the 269th Engineering Company.
Hempstead loved his "small town with a big heart" (Mayo) and gave back to his community with 26 years of service with the Lafayette County Sheriff's Office as a Lieutenant. He truly enjoyed helping people in need and keeping his community safe. Before becoming a Lieutenant, he served as a K9 Deputy for seven years with his faithful companion "Paska."
In his spare time, he enjoyed the art of carpentry, working with his tractor and treasuring the time he spent with his children and grandchildren. He loved to help his family or anyone he considered family. Hempstead spent 32 wonderful years with the love of his life, his wife "TJ." He spent his time with family on his 10-acre farm in Mayo. He enjoyed his life laughing, living, loving and telling jokes.
Hempstead is survived by his wife of 32 years, Tammie Jo Hempstead; two children, Christina (Jeremy) Nix and Chad (Emily) Hempstead; two grandchildren, Cade and Colt Hempstead; parents Bill and Geraldine Adkin; sisters Wendy DeLeon, Marcy Hempstead and Shannon Palmer and four brothers, Boyd Adkins, Billy Adkins, Calvin Adkins and Ronny (Stacy) Bond.
Hempstead was preceded in death by his sister, Becky Adkins.
In lieu of flowers, the family would like for donations to be made to Camp Connexion, P.O. Box 143, Mayo, Fla., 32066, in Hempstead's name or contact Emily Land Beach.
Funeral services were held on Saturday, Aug. 14, at 11 a.m. at Airline Baptist Church with Bro. Randy Walters and Bro. Charlie Walker officiating. Visitation for family, law enforcement families and military families only was held on Friday, Aug. 13, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Airline Baptist Church. All arrangements were under the direction of Burns Funeral Home of Mayo.
Friends may sign the online guest book at www.joepburnsfuneralhomes.com.