Major John Wayne Tolar
66, Oak Vale
Funeral services were held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, June 3, 2023, in the Jefferson Davis County Middle School Gymnasium for Major John Wayne Tolar, 66, of Oak Vale, who passed away Sunday, May 28, in Columbia. Burial followed in Society Hill Cemetery. Rev. Tommy Broom and Rev. Paul Young officiated at the services. Visitation was held from 4 p.m. until 9 p.m. on Friday, June 2, at Colonial Funeral Home.
He was a lifelong Mississippi native and a graduate of Columbia High School. He later studied at Hinds Community College and earned a B.S. in criminal justice from the University of Southern Mississippi. He was a member of Society Hill Baptist Church.
He began his career in law enforcement as an elected Jefferson Davis County constable and a patrolman for the Columbia Police Department in 1980. He served as a constable until 1996. However, he continued to work his way up the ranks at the Columbia Police Department.
In 2009, the Columbia Board of Aldermen named him the interim police chief. He served in the position for five months and then retired from the Columbia Police Department in November of 2010. After retiring from the police department, he went on to serve as an investigator for the Jefferson Davis County Sheriff’s Office.
He was preceded in death by his parents, John “Baby” Tolar and M.E. Dyess Tolar.
His memory will be forever cherished by his wife, Delma Tolar of Oak Vale; daughter, Wynde Tolar Chastain (Anthony) of Biloxi; son, Jeremy Tolar of Columbia; and goddaughter, Rubie McDonald.
Pallbearers were Ron Strickland, Luckie McDonald, Ashley Taylor, Clem Evans, Evan Price and Austin McInnis.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.colonialfuneralhomes-ms.com for the Tolar family. Arrangements entrusted to Colonial Funeral Home.
