Judge Heath was born on June 26, 1953 in the small farming community of Rockfish, North Carolina. Judge Heath attended the public schools in Hoke County and graduated from Hoke County High School in 1971. He attended Appalachian State University and received a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology with a minor in Psychology.

He is a former probation officer and was sworn into office on January 4,1999 when he began as Probate Judge of Marlboro County. Marlboro County Probate Court is involved in Mental Health Court and a Drug Court.