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Slain officer’s life was rich with faith, family

by Lucy Schultze, Staff Writer
Oxford Eagle

The widow of University Police officer Robert Langley is cherishing the memories of their relationship as she makes plans to bury him Wednesday.

“I just can’t even tell you what an awesome man he was,” Lisa Langley said of her husband, a 30-year-old National Guard veteran who died Saturday morning from head injuries after a college student he had stopped for speeding drove off down West Jackson Avenue, dragging him behind for some 200 yards.

As she deals with the shocking loss, Lisa Langley said she is now simply trying to get all the arrangements finalized and “do what he would have wanted.”

“He was just very dedicated and always wanted to do things the right way,” she said Monday afternoon.

“He was a Christian — that’s part of the wonderful relationship that we had. I knew that he loved God and I know he’s in Heaven, and that’s a burden off of me that I don’t have to wonder.”

Athletic standout

Langley’s obituary details, provided by Wells Funeral Home of Batesville, tells the story of a young man who excelled at physical activities, musical skills and in his career as a policeman and soldier.

He joined the ROTC as a high-school student at Madison-Ridgeland Academy, signing up for the Mississippi Army National Guard a year before his graduation in 1995.

At MRA, he played football, ran track and was active in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. While on the track team, he won the state championship in both the 100-meter dash and the high jump. He was also an avid soccer and baseball player.

After graduation, he attended Valley Forge Military College in Valley Forge, Pa., for one year, and then transferred to Delta State University in Cleveland. At both schools he played football as a running back. He later received a mortuary science degree from Northwest Mississippi Community College.

Following a brief career in the funeral business, he worked for the University of Mississippi Grounds Department for several years before beginning his career in law enforcement with UPD in 2004.

Called to duty

In February of 2005 he was called to active duty with the 114th Battalion from New Albany. He served his country for 14 months in Afghanistan, and upon returning rejoined UPD, where he was promoted to the K-9 Unit.

A distinguished honor of his law-enforcement career was being chosen to be the personal bodyguard for Prince Edward while he toured the university campus in February 2005.

Off-duty, Langley was an avid bass fisherman and outdoorsman who also enjoyed the talent of being able to play most any musical instrument.

He was involved in church during his childhood years and rededicated his life to Christ in January 2005 at Sardis Lake Baptist Church in Batesville.

At home, he and his wife enjoyed spending time as a family with children Claire, 9, Robbie and Maci, both 6, and Cory, 1.

“We loved to ride our four-wheeler and just play with our kids,” Lisa Langley said. “He was a family man. He was a wonderful, wonderful husband and I just can’t even tell you how he loved his kids.”