Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

I still think of you every day. I love you. I will be strong.

November 30, 2003

I often think about your smile. It's hard walking down these halls without seeing you smile. You touched my life and I know you still do. I sit and listen to calls go out and worry each time, afraid another friend will leave. God protect and be with us. My message is few and far between but I think of you often. ALWAYS!

Anonymous

November 25, 2003

HAPPY BIRTHDAY !!!! I will never forget you. LEE

October 30, 2003

Uncle Bill,

Remembered you today on your birthday. Noah and I visited your grave {Autumn was asleep and stayed in the car}

Noah wanted to see Matthew. We went by to check on the crew.

We miss you so much.

April

April Fortenberry

October 30, 2003

Heroes Live Forever 908! Love, Daddy's Girl

Haleigh Jiles
Daddy's Girl

October 27, 2003

Lt. ,

I caught a call some time ago that was scarily similar to your last one. Just today I came here to read your memorial page again and almost got sick to my stomache when I re-read the events of your last call, suddenly realizing that it was almost identical. It was headed in the same direction but fortunately things took a sudden turn. There's no doubt in my mind that you were there and had my back.

That's not the first or only call that I've had where I felt like you there with me, covering my six. I never feel like I'm going to a hot call alone anymore. Anyway, you are welcome to ride with me ANYTIME broh! Just wish we could meet at Jones BBQ for a hamburger steak one more time!

We will meet again... someday!

Billy will know who I am...

October 21, 2003

I may not write as often as most, but I am thinking about you and your family. God take care of Sgt. Billy Jiles, I need a strong hand on my shoulder.

IGWT

Anonymous

October 20, 2003

Well it has been 1 year now, and there has'nt a day gone by that I haven't thought of you. Since 2nd grade through High School and til the day you left us. I am blessed to have had a conversation with you that afternoon. Billy you didn't realize how much you were respected as friend,father,husband,son,and law enforcement officer. Billy you are a HERO! Holly you and the kids be strong. Billy is watching over you. Billy you were and will always be my BEST BUDDY!!!! LEE EARNEST

September 17, 2003

Billy,

A year has come and gone and it still seems like a bad dream. The children and I are trying so hard to be brave and strong just like you would have wanted. Haleigh is truly a "Jiles" . She is you made over. I know you continue to smile down from heaven as you see her do things that make you so proud. She loves school and of course, is large and in charge most of the time. She encourages me to be strong and to keep my head held high. Matthew is such a big boy now. He loves to be outside playing and hunting. He has that loving nature that you had. His teachers say is so sweet. Matthew's first day of school was so hard without you. But, deep in my heart I know that you are always with us. The children and I talk about you every day. When they pray at night they always end by asking God to take care of their Daddy.

Billy, thank you for being the best at everything you did, husband, father, son, brother, uncle, son-in-law, and officer. You will never know how much you gave to everyone here. You were truly one of a kind. You gave us love and hope in times of trouble and enough smiles to last a lifetime. You will always be our hero. I love you.

Keep watching over us.

"Lots of Love"
Holly

Holly Jiles
Surviving Spouse

September 17, 2003

BILLY,
WELL IT HAS BEEN JUST OVER A YEAR. IT SURE DOES NOT SEEM LIKE IT. IT SEEMS LIKE IT WAS JUST YESTERDAY. WE SPENT THE YEAR ANNIVERSARY WITH HOLLY AND THE KIDS IN PIGEON FORGE TENN. IT MADE THINGS A LITTLE EASIER NOT TO BE AROUND ON THAT TERRIBLE DAY THAT WE ALL WISHED HAD OF NEVER CAME. AS I GET UP AND GET READY TO COME TO WORK EVERYDAY I PUT MY UNIFORM ON PROUDLY. I WILL NEVER FORGET HOW PROUD YOU TOLD ME YOU WERE WHEN I GRADUATED MANDATE SCHOOL. YOU TAUGHT ME A LOT DURING THE MANY COURSES OF YOUR INSTRUCTION IN OUR MANDATE CLASS. I WILL NEVER FORGET IT EITHER. I'LL TELL YA AFTER SPENDING A WEEK IN THE MOUNTAINS WITH HOLLY AND THE KIDS, HALEIGH IS JUST LIKE YOU. SO MANY TIMES SHE WOULD SAY OR DO SOMETHING AND I WOULD SAY TO HOLLY IT SOUNDED LIKE SOMETHING YOU WOULD SAY OR DO. HOLLY AND THE KIDS SEEMS TO BE DOING SO GOOD. I RECENTLY HAD A BIRTHDAY AND THEY GAVE ME A SET OF "BILLY JILES INK PENS" AND I WEAR THEM EACH AND EVERYDAY I PUT ON MY UNIFORM. I GO VISIT YOUR GRAVE REGULARLY. I WENT THIS PAST FRIDAY AND IT LOOKS JUST AS YOU WOULD LIKE IT TO. NEAT, PERFECT AND SIMPLE. WE ALL MISS YOU!! R.I.P.

DEPUTY TELISHA GIBSON
CARROLL CO SO

September 15, 2003

I had the pleasure of knowing Billy when he and his brother worked for the State of Ga. Billy was always more concerned about the safety of his fellow officers than himself. It is no surprise that when the time came for his trip home that he gave his life for others.
It is coming up on October shortly, Billy and his brother have taken our annual fishing trip to Destin, Fla. Each year at this time I always think of how Billy was like a Mother hen, peeking around the corner making sure everyone was okay, especially big brother.
Billy is sorely missed, but the Lord got an exceptional officer on his team.
God Bless the Jiles family and friends.

Dan Greene/S/A Retired
Ga. Bureau of Investigation

September 11, 2003

Uncle Bill,

We thought of you yesterday as we do every day. I took Granny to see your grave...it makes her feel close. Granddaddy did not feel like going. I gave him a hug as you would have if you could.

We ate dinnner with Granny and Granddaddy. Shane and Jen were there with Noah and Autumn. The children help to brighten sad days for them.

I wish you could see Autumn. You were right, a girl! She is a precious little miracle! She is now 5 mo., a butterball with red hair. Jen is so proud of her and thinks she is the smartest baby in town. Autumn loves to grasp Jen's nose. Jennifer will say,"Autumn, where is mama's nose?" She giggles with delight when Autumn "shows" everyone where the right spot is. I know you would laugh!

Noah turns his baseball cap the same way you would when you would play ball with us. He says, "That's the way Uncle Bill does."

I have many special memories... I guess the most personal is the Thanksgiving after Matthew was born.You had difficulty starting the prayer and broke before you were finished. I could not refrain any longer,your embrace spoke volumns. It was not in what you said, but the compassion that you showed. I'll love you forever.

You taught us how to drive when we were little. I let Haley drive my car in an empty parking lot last Christmas. She was so excited and even parked between the lines.

We took Matthew and Noah to the zoo again this year. That was Matthew's request for his birthday. I know you wanted them to be close. They had a blast.

I know you told us not to cry...but we can do all things through Christ which strengthens us.

The Anchor Holds.
Until Then,
April Jiles Fortenberry

April Fortenberry
neice

September 4, 2003

Rest easy, brother. You are not forgotten as a hero never dies. May God comfort those you leave behind.

Deputy M. Moore
Warren County S.O. (OH)

September 3, 2003

To friends and family,

My thoughts and prayers are with you on this difficult day. Remember him as he was and rejoice in the person that he was here and he is in heaven. I believe those that leave us on earth are watching out for us and see the love that we have for them.

Anonymous

September 3, 2003

On behalf of the men and women who serve and work for the University of North Carolina at Asheville Campus Police and Public Safety Department, our thoughts and prayers go with Lieutenant Billy Ray Jiles's family, friends, and co-workers, as well as our brothers and sisters of the Carroll County Sheriff's Department, GA. God Bless.


Go walk the beat of heaven’s street
walk with fallen “angels of blue”,
Honored to keep watch with St. Michael at wing
protecting our "love, and faith, and truth."

vh#106


Detective V.Harris,
UNCA Campus Police and Public Safety Department,
University of North Carolina at Asheville, N.C.

Detective Vicki Harris
UNCA Campus Police and Public Safety Dept.

September 3, 2003

LT. IT'S BEEN ALMOST A YEAR SINCE THAT FATEFULL DAY
BUT I WANT YOU TO KNOW YOU ARE NOT FORGOTTEN.
EVERYDAY WHEN I PUT ON MY UNIFORM I THINK OF YOU.
EVERY TOUR WHEN I GET A SERIOUS CALL I THINK ABOUT YOU. YOUR DEATH WAS NOT IN VAIN .
AS A MATTER OF FACT YOU ARE STILL PUTTING BAD GUYS IN JAIL. WE PICKED A SUSPECT UP A FEW WEEKS AGO THAT YOU HAD TAKEN A WARRANT ON.
LT. GOD BLESS YOU AND YOUR FAMILY.

DEPUTY DENNIS LINDSAY
CARROLL COUNTY S.O.

August 30, 2003

This is my second posting in Billy's honor. As I sit here on Aug. 13, 2003, it is hard to believe that it has almost been a year since the tragedy occured. I miss my BEST friend terribly. There isn't a day that goes by that I don't think about Billy and there is rarely a day that goes by that something doesn't come up that my first thought is that "this is something I would have called and told Billy about".

As I sat in a 3rd grade classroom today, substituting at Mt. Zion Elementary School, I ran across a poem in a Third Grade Reading book that just seemed to "speak" to me and reminded me so very much of my nearest, dearest friend. I include it here for those of you who counted Billy as a friend in hopes that it may have a special meaning to you as well.

Poem
I loved my friend.
He went away from me.
There's nothing more to say.
The poem ends,
Soft as it began -
I loved my friend.

Langston Hughes

This poem to some might seem inappropriate, maybe even making Billy's death a trivial occurence. But that is NOT what it said to me. To me, this poem speaks volumes. I did indeed love my friend, both with an earthly, brotherly/relative love and a spiritual love. My friend "went away from me"; not because he chose to, not because of a disagreement or argument, but because some sick individual chose to freak out and take Billy's life from him.

The line "There's nothing more to say ." just means I can't find the words to express my feelings, and even if I could, they would fill volumes.

Though "The poem ends," we all know that the memories of Billy live on forever. We also know that Billy is now enjoying that life that NEVER ends - perfect peace and happiness with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

"Soft as it began" reminds me of how my friendship with Billy began; cousins who hardly knew each other as children, crossed paths as adult men, and developed a close friendship - So close, we both knew we could call on each other anytime, anywhere if the need arose.

And the last line once again sums up my thoughts that, as I said, would fill more paper, and use more ink than I could ever fing. "I loved my friend."



Billy,
I did, and still do, love you. No one will ever replace you as my best friend, but I sure could use another like you. I look forward to the day we meet again and you get to take me down those streets of gold and show me all you've enjoyed already. I miss you, man, but I know we'll see each other again.
Kevin

Kevin Bradley
cousin

I DID NOT KNOW LT. BILLY WELL BUT WHEN HE RENDER ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE ONE NIGHT,IT LEFT A BIG IMPRESSION ON ME.SO MUCH THAT I WANT TO BECOME LIKE HIM. I WONDER WHY THE LORD TOOK BILLY WHEN THE WORLD IS SO SHORT ON PEOPLE LIKE HIM.MY PRAYER IS THAT JESUS WILL TOUCH EACH OF YOU THAT KNEW HIM WELL IN A SPECIAL WAY.LT.BILLY WAS USED BY THE LORD IN LIFE,I KNOW THAT HE IS USING HIM NOW.THE THING IS THAT I STILL LOOK UP TO LT.BILLY,I JUST LOOK A WHOLE LOT HIGHER. JONH 14;1,2

chris
carroll county resident

Billy I know you are happy where you are but man i miss hearing from you on occasion. I still think about the times we spent under the tree eating icecream and talking about family, your favorite subject. I have been wanting to leave a message but never knew what to say, today I want to say thank you for everything you did for me and I know you were with Matt yesterday when he was shot and survived. Billy you truly are missed and never forgotten.

Dep. Rodney Houston
Douglas County Sheriff's Office

Although I never met you I feel as though I knew you. My brother Greg Holcomb worked with you for two years and I can still remember the sadness and pain he felt on that tragic day. To this day he still talks about you and your beautiful family and how much he still misses you. Please rest assured that there are people (including Greg) who are here for your family and they will always be in our thoughts and prayers.

Sue Shelnutt

Lt. I think about you everyday and miss the times we used to talk. You were a good man and a role model we all could follow. The day you died I tried to get there to help you but I couldn't get there in time. You are not forgotten.
(rangers lead the way).

Deputy Dennis Lindsay
carroll county sheriffs office

You are missed so much. Things just aren't the same without you. Not a day goes by that we don't think about you and the way you done things. It still seems like yesterday you teaching me in mandate school. It all still just seems like to me that you should be coming back soon. It is just not right. It still hurts so bad to think about it. Holly and the kids are doing great. They are a part of the Sheriff's Office as much as any of us and we love them dearly. Holly and I do the weekly Lazy Donkey lunch and sit and tell stories about ya, we'll laugh a little and cry a little and just wish you were back with us. We will see you again one day but until then we will miss you.
R.I.P. 908

Deputy Telisha Gibson
Carroll County Sheriff's Office

Billy,
A day does not go by that I don't think about you and what you have done for this department. Your pet project, Gym and work out center has finally started at the Sheriffs Office. I know that you were working hard on this project before your death. I know that you would have great joy knowing that in few short months construction will be done. Because of your hard work, it is being named in your honor.

deptuy mike strong
carroll county sheriff det.

Billy, You are still missed eveyday. Holly and the children are all doing fine. We have two of your pictures hanging up in the Dui Task Force office. It is the picture of you and Chad Sheriff with the seized money that Chad got on the interstate. We all think about all the good times we all had and how great you were to everyone. I know heaven is a much better place with you in it but the world is not. You were truly a great man. It hurts to think about you being gone, but we are all still fighting to good fight just like you would want us to do. Love you Lt.

Sgt. Russell Grizzard
Carroll County Sheriff's Office

To Lt. Billy Jiles, My uncle

If you ever asked me who my hero is, I would say without hesitation "Billy Jiles." If you asked Billy who his hero is, without hesitation he would say "Jesus Christ." Billy was a true man of God. He lived a wonderful beautiful life. But if you think of what a wonderful life he had on earth, just think of what he's doing now in heaven. Words can't describe it. The last time I saw Billy was at Church. The last thing he said to me was " I love you bubba, be careful." I replied saying the same. What a wonderful place to last be seen. Not a day goes by that I don't think of Billy and the way he's touched my life. But I know deep down inside that I have to be strong, just like Billy would be. By keeping your eyes on Jesus. I know thats what my Uncle Bill would do. The first question I'm gonna ask Peter at the Gate is "Where's my Uncle Bill." But I already know his answer. Peter will replie "He's been watching over you, he's right here beside me waiting on you." GLORY TO GOD, GLORY TO GOD, FOR MY UNCLE BILL IS AN ANGEL IN HEAVEN.

WALK ON WATER BUBBA, WILL ALL BE SEEING YOU SOON


Your nephew: Brent Herrin