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I had the opportunity the other day to have lunch at my hospital with our local sheriff. He was there as part of a combined community project between law enforcement and health care services.
As I sat and ate with him , I couldn’t help but be reminded of my first health care job and a totally different sheriff.
My first paying healthcare job was at Simpson General Hospital in Mendenhall. I began working there in 1990.
I usually worked weekends there and on occasion we would receive inmates from the county jail. It didn’t take long for me to be introduced to Simpson County Sheriff Lloyd Jones.
Sheriff Jones was a big man . I remember at first being intimidated and a little bit scared of him . But as time passed and I got to know him , I learned to really admire him .
As I said earlier, Sheriff Jones was a big man , but what a lot of people never knew is he also had a big heart. He was always telling jokes , laughing with our emergency room staff and would bring candy to the nurses.
Sheriff Jones always had a big grin on his face but rest assured he was tough as nails on crime!
I have heard it said that he could just drive up to a suspect and say ” Come on , get in the back “. The suspect would get into the back of the patrol car without the sheriff ever getting out .
I remember resting easy at night in Simpson County just knowing that Lloyd Jones was keeping an eye on crime.
Then came the morning of October 4, 1995 . I remember my brother Steve told me on the phone that Sheriff Lloyd Jones, along with a jail trustee, had been shot and killed in his own front yard.
My heart just sank . I recall a pounding in my chest and the feeling of disbelief.
My friend who walked tall and was the picture of law and order to me , had been shot down at his own home. How could this be possible ?
I was brought up to always respect the law …and I still do.
Sheriff Jones served Simpson County well for 19 years. God bless his soul . May he Rest In Peace. Prayers even now to his family and friends.
Don Walker
Ddwalker88 @comcast.net
There will never be another like Sheriff Jones