Mr Joe Mack Thaggard

Joe Mack Thaggard
Carthage, MS
On November 13, 2025, Joe Mack Thaggard passed through the valley of the shadow of death into green pastures and still waters. A table is prepared for him. His cup overflows. Goodness and mercy followed him through the days of his life, and now he will live in the house of the Lord forever.
Joe Mack was born Feb 26,1939 to James Marvin (Bee) Thaggard and Louise Lathem Thaggard. He graduated from Madden High where he was voted Mr. MHS. He then went to Clark College on a basketball scholarship.
He married his high school sweetheart, Peggy Davidson in February of 1958. They celebrated their 67th wedding anniversary this year. That marriage blessed them with three children--Penny, Toby, and Lana, as well as 5 grandchildren, and 8 great-grandchildren who all knew and loved him as "Pop".
Joe Mack went to barber college and had a barber shop on the square in Carthage. He gave many a little boy their first haircut including some of his great-grandboys. He was a Barber until he ran for sheriff of Leake County in 1972.
He was the youngest sheriff to be elected at the time and served four terms. He also served as the President of the MS Sheriffs' Association. After serving as Leake County Sheriff, he went on to work with the MS Public Service Commission until his retirement.
He was an avid squirrel hunter and created many memories with his grands and great- grands in the woods. He loved horses and showed paint horses. He was president of the MS Paint Horse Club multiple years. He was also inducted into the MS Paint Horse Hall of Fame.
But more than anything else, he loved his Lord and Savior, his family, and the people of Leake County.
Joe Mack ("Pop") is loved and missed by his wife, Peggy; son, Toby (Lynn); his daughters Penny Culpepper (Scooter) and Lana Waggoner (Greg); his grandchildren Seth Waggoner (Blair), Luke Culpepper (Melissa), Adriana Jenkins (Andrew), and Chloe Thaggard; his great-grandchildren, Hoyt Jenkins, Evie Klair Jenkins, Case Jenkins, Lacie Anne Culpepper, Ruby Culpepper, Davidson "Davie" Culpepper, Cash Waggoner, and Mack Waggoner.
He is reunited in Heaven with his parents and his granddaughter, Lacie Louise Culpepper.
A celebration of his life will be held Saturday, November 15th at Madden Baptist Church in Madden, MS, where he was an active long-time member, with Rev. Corbin Jenkins and Greg Waggoner officiating. Visitation will be held from 10am – 12 pm with the service to immediately follow. Interment will be in Carthage Memorial Gardens with Wilcox Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.
Pallbearers are Luke Culpepper, Seth Waggoner, Cash Waggoner, Mack Waggoner, Andrew Jenkins, Hoyt Jenkins, and Tristan Hernandez.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Samaritan's Purse. https://www.samaritanspurse.org/