Former Lee County Sheriff Billy Bryant has died, according to a Facebook post from current Sheriff Brian Estes.
Bryant, a Democrat, served a partial appointed term from 1981 to 1982, and then was elected five times between 1986 and 2002. In his final race in 2002, he turned back a challenge from Republican Tracy Carter. Carter was elected in 2006 after Bryant decided not to seek a sixth term, and served until 2021.
Estes was appointed to serve out Carter’s final term, and elected to a full term in his own right earlier this week.
Funeral arrangements have not been announced.