History of George County Sheriff’s Department
The George County Sheriff’s Department was formed in 1910, with Charles Posey Eubanks being the first Sheriff of George County and appointed by the Governor of Mississippi. Murdock R. Roberts was the first elected Sheriff of George County.
Unfortunately, history also shows that there have been two Sheriffs and a Deputy Sheriff have been killed in the line of duty.
SHERIFF GARRY M. WELFORD
Sheriff Garry M. Welford was killed on July 21, 2010 while assisting his deputies during a high speed pursuit. Sheriff Welford, along with three deputies, was set up at the intersection of Howard Road and Bexley Road South in George County waiting for the suspect vehicle to approach his position. Sheriff Welford was struck by the suspect vehicle. The suspects fled from the scene and abandoned their vehicle on Bexley Road North in Greene County and fled into the woods.
Two suspects were captured in Greene County the following morning. In May 2012 one of the killers was tried in Adams County, MS. He was convicted of Capital Murder and sentenced to Life in the custody of Mississippi Department of Corrections. In September 2012 the other killer was tried in Lafayette County, MS. She was convicted of Capital Murder and sentenced to Life in the custody of Mississippi Department of Corrections. In October 2015, the Mississippi Court of Appeals granted her a new trial. This new trial was held in Lauderdale County, MS in March 2016. Once again she was convicted of Capital Murder and sentenced to Life in the custody of Mississippi Department of Corrections.
Sheriff Welford was in the third year of his second term as Sheriff at the time of his death. Sheriff Garry Welford was 63 years old at the time of his death. He left behind his wife, two daughters and a son.
Sheriff Debbie Pipkins Welford, wife of Garry Welford was appointed Sheriff of George County by the Board of Supervisors on July, 30 2010. Mrs Welford served as Sheriff of George County until a special election was held in November 2010. Debbie Pipkins Welford did not seek election to the Office.
SHERIFF J.E. NELSON
Sheriff J.E. Nelson was shot and killed on December 21, 1948 while responding to a domestic violence complaint in George County. Three other persons who were members of the family of the shooter were also killed in the incident. The man responsible for the shootings fled the scene in the Sheriff’s vehicle. He was captured in Jackson County at his mother’s home on Christmas morning 1948. The killer went to trial in Stone County, was convicted of the murders and executed by electrocution in 1951. Sheriff Nelson was near the end his of first year as Sheriff at the time of his death. Sheriff Nelson was 45 years old at the time of his death and left behind his wife and a daughter.
Sheriff Eula Pitts Nelson, wife of J.E. Nelson, was appointed Sheriff of George County by the Board of Supervisors and approved by Governor Fielding Wright on December 24, 1948. Mrs. Nelson served as Sheriff of George County until a special election was held on March 1, 1949. Eula Pitts Nelson did not seek election to the Office. Mrs. Nelson is the first female to hold the Office of Sheriff in George County history.
Former Sheriffs of George County