ROCKINGHAM — Sheriff Mark Gulledge was sworn in Saturday, 11 days after being approved to fill out the rest of the term of the late James E. Clemmons Jr.
The small, private ceremony took place at 2 p.m. at the Richmond County Judicial Center, with Gulledge being sworn in by Resident Superior Court Judge Stephan Futrell, with the sheriff joined by his wife, Felisia, and daughter, Carley.
Gulledge’s parents, Ron and Cindy Gulledge, and his brother, Wells Gulledge — basketball coach at Ashley High School in Wilmington — and his son, Baker, were also at the ceremony.
According to a press release, the event was limited to family and staff members due to a recent rise in COVID cases.
“I would love to have opened it up and invited the entire county to attend, but I had to look at our staff’s health and safety and the health and safety of those who may have attended,” Gulledge said in a statement. “I just don’t feel that the reward outweighed the risk. I do apologize that it was not open to everyone, but through a lot of discussion and prayer, I just felt it was the safest way to handle it.”
Gulledge was hired by then-Sheriff Dale Furr in 1999 and worked in the detention division before becoming a road deputy. When Clemmons was elected to the position in 2010, Gulledge was named chief deputy.
The Richmond County Board of Commissioners approved Gulledge’s nomination as sheriff from the Democratic Party on Aug. 17.
After being sworn in, Gulledge named Maj. Jay Childers as his chief deputy. He also selected Lynn McKinnon as executive assistant to the sheriff, thanking her for more than 30 years of service and loyalty to the sheriff’s office.
The remainder of the deputies, detention officers and civilian personnel were also sworn in and the reserve members will be sworn in over the next few weeks, according to the release.
Gulledge thanked his staff, as well as the community for the support in the wake of Clemmons’ death.
“I do once again want to personally thank the citizens of Richmond County for their support to me and the entire staff at the sheriff’s office, it has been a tough few weeks,” Gulledge said. “Please continue to pray for our staff daily, even through the tough times we will continue to serve the citizens of Richmond County at the most professional level possible and please continue to remember Sheriff Clemmons’ family in your prayers.”
