R. Thomas Breedlove, Sr.

Robert Thomas Breedlove Sr., 86, of Henderson, NC died Sunday, October 4, 2020 at his home.

Born in Vance County, he was the son of the late Marvin Green Breedlove and Daisey Lowry Breedlove.  He was the widower of Elizabeth Edwards Breedlove.

Mr. Breedlove was employed as a serviceman with the former Carolin a Power & Light for sixteen years, in 1977 he founded Breedlove Electric, Inc. , he received his s tate electrical license in 196 9 . In 1983 he became an Auxiliary Officer with the Vance County Sheriff's Department until 1990. He was elected Sheriff of Vance County in 1990.  He took office as sheriff on August 31, 1989, then he was re-el ected in 1994, 1998 and again in 2002 . S heriff Breedlove was cert ified in Basic Law Enforcement Training, Police Science, Life Safety Issues for Jailers and School for Sheriff's Deputies and Jailers.  He was awarded the Long Leaf Pine Award from then Gov. Mike Easley. Sheriff Breedlove received several special recognition awards , he was elected "Best Elected Official" in Vance County thir teen years b y the readers of the Daily Dispatch, Special Recognition Award given by The Henderson-Vance Hum an Relation Commission in May of 2000, the Hero's Award & Key Plaque to Camp E-ten Etu and the Community Par tners of Hope Award . He was a member of Kiwanis International where he was past presid ent, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Disabled American Veterans and was a me mber of the American Legion where he was the Commander in 2004. He was a U.S. Army Veteran and a member of the F irst Baptist Church here in Henderson .

His committees and memberships included , Henderson -Vance Crime stoppers , Youth Oppo rtunity Service Advisory Council , Drug and Crime Elimination Advisory Council, Crim inal Intelligence Council, Emergency Management (Planning), Helping Hands, Governor's Crime Com mission, Kerr-Bu ggs Island Safety Council, Public Service Council, Criminal Justice Partnership Advisory Board, Law Enforcement Executive Council, Juvenile Crime Prevention Council, Chamber of Commerce membership, Eckerd Wilderness Camp (Board Member) , VWGV Criminal Justice Partnership Regi onal Advisory Board, 911 Advisory Board, Legislative Com mittee Member, (NC Sheriff's Association) re -Appointed in 2004-2005, Technical Review Committee (VC Planning Commission), Salvation Army Advisory Board, NC Sheriff's Training and Standards Commission(A ppointed August 2003 and Re-appointed in October of 2004, NC Sheriff's Eastern-at-Large Represen tative in 2003,Criminal Justice Lay Advisory Committee (3 year term), Kiwanis Borad of Directors, NCSA President's Appointment (East), Criminal Justice/ BLET Advisory Board .

A memorial service will be held Thursday, October 8, 2020 at 2:00 p.m. at South Henderson Pentecostal Holiness Church, conducted by the Rev. Frank Sossamon.

Surviving are one daughter, Lynne B. Pendergrass (David), one son, Robert Thomas "Tommy" Breedlove Jr. (Cynthia); one sister, Rachel Breedlove, one brother, Ralph Breedlove ; one grandson, Robert Thomas "Tre" Breedlove ( Lindsey); one great-grandson, Judson Breedlove; t wo step-granddaughters , Renee Faulkner and Stephanie Wright (Butch) , two step-grandsons, David Pendergrass Jr. (Jennifer) , Kenneth Pendergrass and a step-great granddaughter, Zoie Wilson. In addition to his parents and wife, he was preceded in death by a daughter, Amy Elizabeth Breedlove, one sister, Peggy Dickerson and three brothers, Marvin Bre edlove Jr., Glenn Breedlove and Ernest Breedlove.

The family will receive friends Thursday, from 12:30-2:00 p.m. at South Henderson Pentecostal Holiness Church.  All other times , they will be at his home.

Honorary pallbearers will be all present and former law enforcement officers.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Henderson-Vance Crime Stoppers 901 Dorsey Ave. , Henderson , NC  27536.

The family wishes to give a " Special Thank You" to his caregivers , Jean M. Collins, Matthew Todd and Anna Davis.

We ask everyone who attends the visitation and memorial service to practice social dis tancing and wear an appropriate face covering.

A rrangements are by Sossamon Funeral Home.  Online condolences may be made at www.sossamonfuneralhome.com.