Visitation
Committal
William “Kent” Southard, 75, of Morganton went home to be with the Lord on Tuesday, September 6, 2022.
Born in Lake County, Florida on December 9, 1946, he was the son of the late William Gordon Southard and Katie Tallent Southard. Kent was a US Army veteran of the Vietnam War, served as a NC State Trooper, and retired as a Lieutenant with NC Dept. of Corrections – IMPACT West. He enjoyed doing anything outside and demonstrated his love and reverence for God through his special love for animals and nature.
Kent is survived by his wife, Sharon Ward Southard; sons, Sgt. Jamie Hastings, NCSHP and wife, Crystal, and CH (MAJ) Jason Southard, USA and wife, Angela; grandchildren, Tyler Hastings, Paige Southard Hollandsworth and husband, SSgt. Nathan Hollandsworth, USAF, and 2nd Lt. Ryan Southard, USA; great-granddaughter, Everly Hollandsworth; brother, Jack Southard and wife, Connie, of Bryson City, NC; and the mother of his children, Kay Saulmon.
The funeral will be held at 11 a.m., Saturday, September 10, 2022 at West Lenoir Baptist Church with Pastor Rick Safriet officiating. A private graveside service will be held at the Western Carolina State Veterans Cemetery with military honors provided by the NC National Guard and the Caldwell County Veterans Honor Guard.
Memorial contributions may be made to Disable American Veterans, Chapter #43, 2779 DAV Avenue, Morganton, NC 28655.
Sossoman Funeral Home and Crematory Center is assisting the family with the arrangements.
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I'm so sorry to be so late learning of Kent's passing. I worked with Kent at Western Correctional Center from 1979-1983 in the Infirmary. He was an exceptional man, and I learned much from him. His demeanor with the inmates was caring and professional, but he brooked no nonsense. He had a droll sense of "down home" humor, and he and Phillip Wilson, one of our co-workers, kept me in stitches. I knew he had moved to the IMPACT program, but had no contact with him or any other of the people I worked with after I left. I attended Nursing School at Western Piedmont CC during my employment with NCDOC and moved away after graduating. I think fondly of my time at Western CC, I can still picture lanky Kent attending to the inmate patients, assisting the physicians who came to our facility. I remember him breaking his ankle, (but not how) and I carved him a walking stick when he returned to work. He is one of the people I've known in my life who I have often thought of, and I am devastated to learn of his passing. My heartfelt condolences go to his family and friends.