Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

Sheriff Posey
Thanks for your sacrifice and service to the citizens of Franklin County. Few peace officers would exchange themselves for hostages, but you did what you thought was best at the time. In retrospect you gave up your life so others could live out their lives. Your selfless heroism is remarkable and says a lot about who you were. Thanks for being there for the those hostages and honoring our profession.

James Lopey, Assistant Sheriff (Ret)
Washoe County Sheriff's Office (Reno, Nevada)
Nevada DPS

September 29, 2021

Rest In Peace always and know that your service and sacrifice are always remembered.

Detective Cpl/3 Steven Rizzo
Delaware State Police (Retired)

September 29, 2020

James Posey was married to my Cousin Kay Wright Posey. James was a loving husband and father. I have the highest regard for this well respected man. James was taken much too soon.

NancyB. Peden
family

September 29, 2019

I wish to thank Sheriff Posey for his sacrifice, devotion to duty and fidelity in carrying out the highest standards of our profession...and to Mrs. James Posey (Donna) and his children Mike and Melissa: Thanks for sharing him with the rest of us. He - and you - are not forgotten.

NC Officer

September 29, 2018

In Mississippi neighboring County Lines don't mean much unless your talking football or landmarks. A young boy about 12 years old can remember My Father (Lincoln Co. Deputy) returning home late during the evening (which was common) and could tell that something had disturbed him greatly. The next day our mother informed us what had happened as much as she thought we could handle or understand, to explain our fathers behavior. Sheriff Posey was a great man, that I would hear my Father refer to many times with nothing but respect. Latter in life, I became friends with Mike and Melissa, who both took after their father because they are the two best people anyone could ever meet and call friends and that doesn't happen by accident, it happens by the way you were raised. Mike and Melissa, we love you both so much, and as we get older and settle into our careers and individual life's, I will tell you every morning when I go to work, I just hope and pray that I can make a difference in someones life like your dad did with so many he came in contact with. It is honor to call you both friends.

Captain Clint Earls
Brookhaven Police Department

September 30, 2016

I was born in 1963 and grew up in northern Mississippi, so was just short of turning 19 in September 1982. I don't remember hearing of this at that time, but recently happened upon this site to read of Sheriff Posey's passing. I'm sure his family misses him terribly, but how proud of him they must be. I'm also proud of this fellow Mississippian.

Anonymous
Anonymous

June 23, 2016

I feel very guilty as I am just getting around to Thanking Sheriff Posey as I do so many times, even daily. See I was the 14 year old boy in the car when it happened. So many things I have kept inside for many years, things Derald said to me that assured me and my family were going to die that day. But Sheriff posey intervened and made the ultimate sacrifice. He is one of the rare people that carried his self in a positive, professional manner at all times. Their are few very true hero's, and he is one that I will always keep in my head. Sheriff Posey, you bring the meaning to the word Sheriff and will always be missed.

Ex BPD and LCSO, Sonny Welch

October 26, 2015

I never knew this until now. Thanks for sharin, RIP Sheriff Posey

Kathy Norris, Policewife
BPD

September 29, 2015

Sheriff Posey will always be a HERO for his actions that day. As a deputy and employee who was there that day this tragic death by the hands of a criminal who was waiting to go to trial for the death of another man was an act that could have been avoided only if he hadn't been allowed to be out on bond. I am proud to say that Sheriff Posey was my friend and mentor and will always have a special place in my heart. I pray for every law enforcement officer daily because they put their lives on the line each and every time that they walk out the door. Sheriff Posey was the BEST!!!

Director Mark S. Thornton
Franklin County Emergency Management

September 29, 2015

Your sacrifice will never be forgotten! Thank you for your dedicated service to the Citizens of and Franklin County! Continue to Rest in Peace Sheriff Posey.
Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. John 15:13

"Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of GOD." Matthew 5:9

Corporal Tony Dunn
Mississippi Highway Patrol, Troop D

September 29, 2015

Donna and Mike

I recall Wednesday, September 29, 1982, like it was yesterday. I have told the story of the sherriff's unbelievable heroic actions of that day to so many people throughout the years that followed. When you assign someone with the label of being a "hero", one should read the accounts of the unselfish actions James took that day to save the lives of that lady and those childern. As I continue along in my law enforcement career, I can only hope to be half the officer Sherriff James Posey was!!

Corporal Robert W. Harrigill Florida Highway Patrol Homicide Investigator

July 8, 2015

WELL, IT HAS TOOK YEARS FOR ME TO UNDERSTAND THE QUESTION! WHY WHY WHY!! BUT I CAN HONESTLY SAY, THAT GOD HAS A PURPOSE FOR ALL THINGS. THERE HAS BEEN HURT, PAIN AND GREAT LOSS, THAT I HAVE SUFFERED FROM OVER WHAT DAD DID. BUT AS I SEE THE LIFE THAT LIVES ON BECAUSE OF WHAT HE DID. IT MAKES ME UNDERSTAND MORE ABOUT WHY. HE GIVE IT ALL SO THAT LIFE COULD GO ON. AND I KNOW IT WAS NOT FOR THE MONEY!! HIS LAST CHECK FOR THE MONTH WAS 850.00 BACK THEN. DAD WAS ALWAYS MY HERO!! EVEN WHILE HE WAS ALIVE, THERE WAS LOTS OF SACRIFICES THAT HAPPENED. HE DIDN'T HAVE A LOT OF TIME, BECAUSE OF HIS JOB! BUT HE DID WHAT HE LOVED! AND I NOW UNDERSTAND!! TAKES A SPECIAL PERSON FOR THIS KINDA OF SERVICE! LOVE AND MISS YOU DAD!! AND FOR ALL THE PEOPLE INVOLVED IN THIS, TIME HAS HEALED, AND THE FORGIVENESS IS ALL THERE! THE PEOPLE THAT WAS ON THE OTHER END OF THIS SITUATION, LOST ALSO. AND I HAVE COME TO UNDERSTAND, THAT EVERYONE LOST THAT DAY!! ONLY THE LOVE OF GOD HAS BROUGHT ME TO THIS UNDERSTANDING. AND TO HIM I'M FOREVER GRATEFUL!!!

MIKE POSEY
HIS ONLY SON

May 26, 2015

Sheriff Posey: My brother firefighters are often called heroes, and I can honestly sayI have worked along side of some very brave individuals. After reading what you did I want you to know you are a real hero in my book. Rest well sir.

Captain "Irish" Mike McAllister
Washington State Firefighter

April 30, 2015

Time may ease pain, but wounds always remain. I know you would so be proud of Melissa and Mike. I know how much they miss you, how much I miss you. I read something recently that brought this day to mind..."Word fail when heroes fall." That is true, because after all this time, words still fail me. Seeing the reflections left here after all this time shows how you touched so many lives and how we still miss you...you will always be in my heart.

Donna
Wife

September 30, 2013

To fully appreciate the heroes of the present, we must recognize our heroes of the past. Your heroism and service is honored today, the 31rst anniversary year of your death.

Your memory lives and you continue to inspire. Thank you for your service. My cherished son Larry Lasater was a fellow police officer who was murdered in the line of duty on April 24, 2005 while serving as a Pittsburg, CA police officer.

Time never diminishes respect. Your memory will always be honored and revered. What a legacy of heroism and selflessness you left!

Rest In Peace.

Phyllis Lasater Loya
mom of fallen Pittsburg (CA) officer Larry Lasater

August 10, 2013

Ther e is no greater exemplification of dedication and duty than the sacrifice of one's life. As a native Franklin Countian, I remember the tragic occurrence of Sheriff Posey's death all too well. Well before that, I remember Sheriff Posey as a courageous man. He appointed the first black deputy of Franklin County. That man was Deputy Cleveland "Pappy" Norman and he was my father. Amid the harassment and threats, Sheriff Posey stood by his convictions. So, I was not surprised to hear of yet another selfless act by Sheriff Posey when I heard the news many years ago. Thank you Sheriff James Posey for all of the good deeds you performed.

Angela Ray
Franklin County Native

June 2, 2013

Tonight I passed a memorial section of road in Lafayette, LA and thought of the Trooper Danny Nash Memorial on Hwy 84 near Meadville, MS which made me remember Sheriff James Posey. In searching for information, I found this site and just wanted to add - he truly was a hero. Now that I have children, I realize what a selfless honorable thing he did for that woman and those children. His sacrifice left a son and daughter and wife to mourn him - they deserve our thoughts also. Thank you, sheriff. May you never be forgotten.

Nikki

August 18, 2012

To willingly sacrifice your life to save the lives of others is heroic. You did not have to put yourself in harms way but you did for the well being of others. You sir are a HERO and you sir will NOT BE FORGOTTEN. Thank you for your service and your sacrifice

Lt TDW
ADOC SRP

March 20, 2011

I'm a minister in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. I just read an article pertaining to the loss of a sheriff in George County. I then read the article on the sheriffs we have lost in the past. I was quite impressed by what I read about Sheriff Posey and I want his family to know that I am thankful for men like him.

You have every reason to be proud of such a great man and I thank God for him.

Milton Miskel

Milton Miskel
reader of article about mississippi sheriffs

July 23, 2010

Sheriff Posey, you truly define the word hero.

#510
US Treasury - BPD Parkersburg WV

June 12, 2010

Though I never knew him, he was part of my Law Enforcement family and I will mourn this deep loss the rest of my life. My heart aches with all the losses we have suffered, and continue to suffer, through the years. God is our only peace in such incidents & our only real comfort comes from Him. May His strength, comfort & peace continue to be the sustaining force in the lives of all who knew this beloved officer; and may it somehow help to know they do not grieve alone.

Vicki Hare, Telecommunicator
Salisbury NC PD

October 7, 2009

Your actions are that of a true hero. people can only aspire to be the type of hero that you were..R.I.P.

Jim Britt
Wilmington N.C.

March 27, 2009

THERE IS HARDLY A DAY THAT GOES BY THAT I DON`T THINK OF YOU. WE SHARED MANY THINGS FROM COLLECTING GUNS TO ANTIQUE CLOCKS BESIDES BOTH BEING AUTO BODY REPAIRMEN.SHARED A FEW SECRETS ALSO. REST IN PEACE, FRIEND.

JOHNNY WILSON
BEST FRIEND

January 1, 2009

RIP.You will never be forgotten.

Anonymous

November 7, 2008

My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.

Former Police Officer
District Heights, MD Police Dept.

September 29, 2008