Tommy D. Kemp Sr.

Tommy Dale Kemp, Sr passed away peacefully early the morning of Friday, September 27, 2024, following a year battling pancreatic and liver cancer. Visitation will be held at Rose Neath Funeral Home in Minden, LA, at 1:00pm with a funeral service to follow at 2:00. Burial will be in Arlington Cemetery in Homer. Tommy was preceded in death by his parents, J. T. and Mabel Kemp of Minden, his brother Bobby Drew of Irving, TX, sister Betty Jean Carter of Taylor, LA, and one step-daughter, Robin Carey of Little Rock AR. He is survived by his wife, Linda Kemp, son Tommy Dale, Jr (wife, Robin) of Minden, step-daughter Rebecca Carey of Little Rock, AR, sisters Louse White of Dallas, TX, and Linda Dillon of Homer (forever known to Tommy strictly as “Ruffhouse”), and grandson Justin Kemp of Sibley, LA, step-grandson Chase Faullin of Little Rock, AR, great-grandsons Trenton and Tyson Kemp of Sibley, LA, step-granddaughter Sierra Faullin of Little Rock, AR, step-great-granddaughter Charlotte Faullin of Little Rock, AR, as well as a number of nieces and nephews. 

For many years, Tommy Kemp was known as “The Singing Deputy” of Webster Parish, having worked for the Webster Parish Sheriff’s Office for 30 years before retirement, and after his mother bought him his first Martin guitar in 1958, which he still owned and would accompany with his deep baritone voice. He continued his love of music throughout his life, and in service to his Lord, he came to lead music at a number of churches in Webster and Claiborne Parishes. He was a member at Eastside Missionary Baptist Church. Tommy spent his entire life living in Webster Parish and descended from the Millers who settled in Germantown Colony. 

Tommy loved his family, his cowboy boots, and sharing jokes and stories with anyone willing to listen. Prior to his passing, his vehicles ranged from a Cadillac to a restored Model A Ford to a John Deere tractor, but he likely put more mileage on his lawn mower while immersed in what may have been his favorite past-time of mowing. His surviving family members are comforted knowing that he is with his Lord and Savior in Heaven, where grass may no longer need mowing but where the kitchens are always stocked with homemade chocolate pies and chicken and dumplings. 

Conducting the service will be Rev. Chet Johnson. Pall bearers are Justin Kemp, Scott Dillon, John Dillon, Sheriff Jason Parker, Hank Haynes, and Chris Hammontree. Tommy’s wife, Linda, would like to make a special acknowledgement of thanks to their neighbor Delana Hammontree who graciously and continually assisted the family, whether mowing their yard when Tommy’s health prevented his doing so, driving Linda to doctors’ appointments, or anything else she could do for them.