Gerald P. Higginbotham

Gerald P. Higginbotham, 61, of Madison Heights, passed away Sunday, November 2, 2014 at Virginia Baptist Hospital after a courageous battle with cancer. He was the loving and devoted husband of Debra Candler Higginbotham.

Born January 11, 1953 in Lynchburg, he was the son of Frances Campbell Beard of Amherst and the late Chester Higginbotham. Gerald was a Captain and Investigator with the Amherst County Sheriff’s Office. He was truly dedicated and committed forty years of his life to the citizens of Amherst County and law enforcement. His family and his job were his life. He was an avid sportsman, who loved to hunt and fish and loved animals. Gerald attended Chestnut Hill United Methodist Church.

Gerald graduated from Amherst County High School, Central Virginia Community College, and The Central Virginia Criminal Justice Academy, where he received expert rating in many courses in the law enforcement profession.

In addition to his wife and mother, Gerald is survived by his loving and devoted daughter, Melanie Higginbotham Jay and husband Ryan of Madison Heights; a son, Robbie Higginbotham and his family; a brother, Mark Higginbotham and his family; his brother-in-law, who was more like a brother, Tim Humphrey; two nieces, Kristin Humphrey and Stephanie White; two nephews, Nicholas Humphrey and Scott White; Gerald’s puppy son, Eli and his puppy grandchild, Blair.

A funeral service will be conducted at 11:00 a.m., Thursday, November 6, 2014 at Madison Heights Baptist Church with the Rev. Becky Cloud officiating. Interment will follow at Fort Hill Memorial Park.

The family will receive friends from 4-7 p.m., Wednesday, November 5, 2014 at Whitten Monelison Chapel.

Those wishing to make memorial contributions are asked to consider the Amherst County Humane Society, P.O. Box 614, Amherst, VA, 24521.

The family would like to express their sincere appreciation to all of the staff at the Alan B. Pearson Regional Cancer Center and Dr. Jenkins for the wonderful care provided for Gerald.

They would also like to thank Sheriff Jimmy Ayers and all of Gerald’s brothers and sisters in law enforcement for their love and support during the last eleven months.