The Honorable Johnny Wayne “Judge” McLarty

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The Honorable Johnny Wayne “Judge” McLarty, 73, died Monday, December 11, 2023, at Baptist Memorial Hospital – North Mississippi. The funeral will be Saturday, December 16, 2023, at 11:00 A.M. at Anchor Baptist Church with Rev. Fish Robinson and Rev. Chris McCluskey officiating. Burial will follow the service in Browning Cemetery. Visitation will be held Friday, December 15, 2023, from 4:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M. in West Hall of Waller Funeral Home and again prior to the service on Saturday, beginning at 10:00 A.M. at the church.

Judge was born on May 28, 1950, to the late Clara Mae and John Murry McLarty. A lifelong resident of Oxford, his heart and soul belonged to his community. A judge since 1979, he was the second longest elected Justice Court Judge in the State of Mississippi. Judge was an avid fan of Ole Miss Sports and longtime ticket taker, known as a legend in the Left Field by all those he ushered in throughout the years. Although he loved his Rebels, nothing brought him greater fulfillment than supporting the Lafayette County School District and their athletic programs. Heavily involved with the school across the years, he had held every role from coach, umpire, and videographer, and drove his own bus route for around 20 years. He was a charter member of the Splinter Valley Hunting Club, where he spent many days hunting and fishing. Judge was a member of Taylor Baptist Church and the Mason Lodge #33 in Oxford, where he held many cherished friendships with his fellow masons. Judge also spent time as a volunteer deputy with the sheriff’s department, a 911 dispatcher, and worked as an EMT with Oxford-Lafayette County hospital. He had mastered what so many longed for, which is to love your career so much that it doesn’t feel like work at all.

A man of habit and intention, Judge was always early and constantly showed up for his friends and family. A week in his shoes would include rounds to various social outings and commitments. A schedule that would exhaust most his age instead filled him with energy and vigor, as Judge would hop from the Beacon to Handy Andy, Sky Mart, Grillhouse, or Taylor Grocery if it were a Sunday. He was founder of the Thursday Lunch Crew, a merry band of judges and attorneys that would gather together at the Beacon.

Judge was the pillar of so many social circles, both professional and personal, but was most importantly the pillar of his family. He never missed an event in his children or grandchildren’s lives, even livestreaming one’s graduation from the hospital. His devotion and commitment to his career, his friends, and, most of all, his family stayed with him until the very end. Just hours before passing, as he lay in his hospital bed, he was sworn in to his 12th term as Justice Court Judge by his longtime friend, Judge Howorth. Even in this moment, he thought never of himself, but of those he loved so dearly and the community he was so honored to serve. Though, all those in his life would agree, that we were the lucky ones to have known him. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Debbie Tatum McLarty and his sister, Jeanette Wells.

Judge is survived by his daughter, Deanna McLarty Massey and her husband, Bruce; son, Chad McLarty and his wife, April; brothers-in-law, Dewey Wells and Jimmy Tatum and his wife, Theda; seven grandchildren, Austin McLarty (Caitlan), Lee Murray McLarty, Alexis McLarty, Taylor Jackson, Bailey Jackson, Rex Massey, and Smith Massey; and two great-grandchildren, Myles McLarty and May Ann McLarty; all of Oxford, MS; as well as his Justice Court family.

Expressions of sympathy or memorial contributions in Judge’s memory may be made to Browning Cemetery Fund, c/o Libby Callicoat, 324 County Road 321, Oxford, MS 38655.