J. Wayne Sturdivan

J. Wayne Sturdivan, 85, of Ringgold Georgia passed away peacefully in his sleep on Wednesday January 21, 2026. Wayne Sturdivan was born October 14, 1940, in Prague, Oklahoma. He attended school in Meeker, Oklahoma and graduated college at Central State University in Edmond, Oklahoma. He was employed by the Oklahoma Highway Patrol from 1960 to 1963, after which, he began his employment with the Federal Bureau of Investigation. He retired from the FBI in October of 1998 after a lifelong career as a Special Agent. Upon retiring from the FBI, he was employed as the Major of the Walker County Sheriffs Department, where he retired from in 1999.

The highlight of his distinguished career with the FBI was in 1963, when he was sent to Dallas, Texas and assigned to the investigation of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. He was later assigned to offices in Mobile, Alabama for 3 months, Montgomery, Alabama for a year, Atlanta, Georgia for 2 years and then to the Residence Agency in Rossville, Georgia in 1974. In his career, he was also involved in the investigations of the kidnapping of the editor of the Atlanta Journal Constitution, the Atlanta Child Murders, and operation Sandstorm in Northwest Georgia.

Wayne is a member of East Ridge Presbyterian Church, where he served as a Deacon and a member of the Servants Heart Bible Study Class. His hobbies included playing golf and gardening. He loved his grand children and great grandchildren, whom he always found time to visit with or spend time with.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Oliver Eugene Sturdivan, Anna Mae (Robert's) Sturdivan, his brother Paul E. Sturdivan and a Grandson J. Derrick Sturdivan. He is survived by his wife of 64 years, his high school sweetheart, Helen Irene Sedlacek. Wayne and Helen have three children Tommy W. Sturdivan (Bambi), Janice Plemons (Alan), and Brenda Keith (Todd). Six grandchildren, Nicole Sturdivan (Shannon Thompson), Cody Sturdivan (Amber), Ashley Westmoreland, Zachary Bales (Danielle), John Keith, and Mac Keith. Three great grandchildren Khloe Westmoreland, Zoey Sturdivan, and Brooks Bales. Wayne is also survived by a sister, Carol Ann Burris of Oklahoma City and several nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be Tuesday, January 27, 2026, from 3:00 pm to 8:00 pm and Wednesday, January 28, 2026, from 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm, at Heritage Funeral Home & Crematory 3239 Battlefield Parkway Fort Oglethorpe, Ga. 30742. The service will be Wednesday, January 28, 2026, at 1:00 pm in the Chapel at Heritage Funeral Home & Crematory with Pastor J.R. Caines officiating. Interment will follow at Tennessee Georgia Memorial Park, 724 Hogan Road Rossville, Ga. 30741.

Pallbearers will be Cody Sturdivan, Mac Keith, John Keith, Zachary Bales, Jason Davis and Payton Lowe. Honorary Pallbearers will be the Servants Heart Bible Class from East Ridge Presbyterian Church and all Law Enforcement.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to East Ridge Presbyterian Church, Servants Heart Bible Study Class or the Walker County Stocking Full of Love.