Raymond Lawrence Wilkes

Macon- Former Bibb County Sheriff Raymond "Ray" Lawrence Wilkes, Sr., passed away Saturday, October 29, 2011. Funeral services will be held Tuesday, November 1, 2011, at 10:00AM, in the Ingleside Baptist Church Worship Center with Doctors Tim McCoy, Mark Hudgins and Laudis H. Lanford officiating. Burial will be at Riverside Cemetery. Visitation will be held Monday, October 31, 2011, from 2:00PM until 4:00PM and from 6:00PM until 8:00PM, in the Ingleside Baptist Church Worship Center Gathering Area. Donations may be made to Middle Georgia Community Food Bank, 4490 Ocmulgee East Blvd, Macon, GA 31217, or the Salvation Army, 1955 Broadway, Macon, GA 31206. Sheriff Wilkes attended Mercer University and was a life-long resident of Macon. He was a member of Ingleside Baptist Church. He was a Master Mason as well as a 50 year member of Mabel #255 Masonic Lodge. He also served in the Georgia State Guard. Sheriff Wilkes was a former Boy Scout master, and attained the rank of Life Scout. Sheriff Wilkes began his tenure at the Bibb County Sheriff's Office as a patrol officer on October 4, 1952. In 1958 he was promoted to Criminal Investigator. In 1961, he was promoted to Chief I.D. Officer (the forerunner of today's forensic crime scene investigator). In 1963, he was promoted to Chief Investigator and in 1965 he was appointed Chief Deputy Sheriff. Wilkes held the Chief Deputy position until he was elected Sheriff of Bibb County in 1977. He served as Sheriff until his retirement in December of 1992. During his career at the Bibb County Sheriff's Office, Wilkes worked tirelessly to promote professionalism and to establish standards in the field of law enforcement. He brought to the Sheriff's Office the concept of four "cornerstones" of building a successful law enforcement agency: selection, training, supervision, and inspection. While still a deputy, Wilkes developed the Junior Deputy Sheriff's League, an educational program about law enforcement techniques for sixth grade school students. This successful course of study continues to be offered in the Bibb County schools. During his 40 years of service, Wilkes at some point manned every job at the Bibb Sheriff's Office and worked every kind of criminal case. In 1980, under Wilkes guidance, the sheriff's office and jail were moved from the Bibb County Courthouse into the new Law Enforcement Center (LEC) complex on Oglethorpe Street. Wilkes was a graduate of the 69th Session of the FBI National Academy and has served on numerous professional and civic boards and committees. He was a Former Vice-Chairman of the Georgia State Board of Corrections and served on the Board of Directors of Bank South. During his career, Sheriff Wilkes dabbled in the glamorous spotlight of Hollywood. He had speaking roles in the films Wise Blood and Mr. Griffin and Me. After his retirement he authored two books, I Didn't Save the President's Life, I Only Saved His Pants" and "May I Speak, Mr. President? This Country is in a Mess!" Wilkes had been honored as Peace Officer of the Year by several different organizations. But he had stated that his greatest honor was simply "to be elected Sheriff of Bibb County." Register online at www.hartsmort.com. Hart's Mortuary and Crematory, Cherry Street, has charge of arrangements.