HOKE COUNTY, N.C. — Longtime Hoke County Sheriff Hubert Peterkin will be honored and laid to rest Friday after the law enforcement leader died Oct. 22, following complications from surgery. 

A public viewing and walk-through event starts at 10 a.m. at Cape Fear Conference B on Fayetteville Road in Raeford and runs until 1 p.m. There will be a private funeral service at 2 p.m., which will include family, friends and law enforcement, according to a release from the Hoke County Sheriff's Office. 

The sheriff, who served in the role for 19 years, will be laid to rest at a burial service at Highland Biblical Gardens on Scott Currie Road in Raeford. 

Prior to his nearly 20-year run as the county's sheriff, Peterkin served as a policeman and detective for the Fayetteville Police Department for 15 years, officials said. 

His loss has devastated the community. 

“Knew him personally — was an outstanding man, tremendous loss for us, just a tremendous loss,” said 87-year-old Frank Crumpler, who is the county's coroner and currently acting as sheriff.