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Julian Arsenio Priest III
Incident
Associate Warden Julian Priest died as the result of complications after contracting COVID-19 while assigned to the Tabor Correctional Institution in Tabor City, North Carolina.
Associate Warden Priest was a U.S. Navy veteran and had served with the North Carolina Department of Public Safety for 29 years.
COVID-19 and Law Enforcement
Associate Warden III Julian Arsenio Priest III died on December 24, 2020 of COVID-19 contracted in the line of duty. He was 57.
He is one of 885 officers honored here, and one of 10 at North Carolina Department of Public Safety - Division of Adult Correction and Juvenile Justice.
Beginning in early 2020, law enforcement officers across the country contracted COVID-19 in the course of their duties. While much of the nation sheltered at home, they kept answering calls, making arrests, transporting prisoners, and working face to face with the public. There was no distance to be had from the job.
Corrections officers were hit hardest. Confined facilities and large populations meant constant, close, unavoidable exposure.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife and three children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
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- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Also honored at requiem.nw, salute.nw — U.S. Marine Corps, salute.nw — U.S. Navy. One record, 4 gates. Julian is one person.
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Tributes
The country locked its doors. You kept working.
Associate Warden III Priest gave the North Carolina Department of Public Safety 29 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of North Carolina. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Associate Warden III Priest.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Julian Arsenio Priest III served in the U.S. Marine Corps (1983â1991) before joining law enforcement.
The Sacrifice · Illness
North Carolina Department of Public Safety - Division of Adult Correction and Juvenile Justice has lost 31 officers; 10 of them lost to illness.
Julian is one of 37 officers lost to illness in NC, 5.6% of the 664 remembered there.
Julian is one of 2,028 officers lost to illness in the United States, 7.4% of the 27,552 remembered there.
Julian is one of 2,979 officers lost to illness worldwide, 8.7% of the 34,103 remembered here.
34,103 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 2020, 7 officers at North Carolina Department of Public Safety - Division of Adult Correction and Juvenile Justice were lost to illness, more than in any other year.
In 2020, 12 officers in NC were lost to illness, the 2nd heaviest of 5 years on record. The heaviest was 2021, with 19.
In 2020, 346 officers in the United States were lost to illness, the 2nd heaviest of 108 years on record. The heaviest was 2021, with 564.
In 2020, 347 officers worldwide were lost to illness, the 2nd heaviest of 197 years on record. The heaviest was 2021, with 566.
Who
Julian was 57. Of the 10 lost to illness at North Carolina Department of Public Safety - Division of Adult Correction and Juvenile Justice whose age is recorded, half were between 50.3 and 60.5; the middle age was 58. Julian had served 29 years; the middle length of service was 14.6 years.
Julian was 57. Of the 37 lost to illness in NC whose age is recorded, half were between 41 and 57; the middle age was 50. Julian had served 29 years; the middle length of service was 16 years.
Julian was 57. Of the 1,996 lost to illness in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 42 and 58; the middle age was 51. Julian had served 29 years; the middle length of service was 20 years.
Julian was 57. Of the 2,916 lost to illness worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 39 and 56; the middle age was 49. Julian had served 29 years; the middle length of service was 20 years.
When
December holds 10% of these deaths at North Carolina Department of Public Safety - Division of Adult Correction and Juvenile Justice; October holds the most, 40%. Thursdays: 10%.
December holds 5.4% of these deaths in NC; October holds the most, 29.7%. Thursdays: 10.8%.
December holds 9.6% of these deaths in the United States; October holds the most, 14.9%. Thursdays: 15.7%.
December holds 9.6% of these deaths worldwide; October holds the most, 12.6%. Thursdays: 15.2%.
How
Illness deaths account for 32.3% of all 31 deaths at North Carolina Department of Public Safety - Division of Adult Correction and Juvenile Justice, the 2nd most common cause.
Illness deaths account for 5.6% of all 664 deaths in NC, the 3rd most common cause.
Illness deaths account for 7.4% of all 27,552 deaths in the United States, the 3rd most common cause.
Illness deaths account for 8.7% of all 34,103 deaths worldwide, the 3rd most common cause.
His people
North Carolina Department of Public Safety - Division of Adult Correction and Juvenile Justice has 31 officers remembered here, Julian among them.
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J. C. Freeman Sep 18, 1915
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Thomas Peter Sale Jan 28, 1916
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A. D. Spivey Aug 30, 1928
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Ernest B. Hux Aug 30, 1934
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James S. Chesser Dec 28, 1939
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H. Carl Keith May 25, 1945
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George S. Bowman Mar 4, 1947
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Kermit Dale Jackson Jul 21, 1960
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Earl Cranston Strickland Jun 2, 1969
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Randall Clayton Cupp
Jun 5, 1986
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Leslie John Besci Jun 28, 1992
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David Michael Anthony
Oct 27, 1998
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Shannon Cuddington Smith
Nov 9, 1999
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Edward Ashley Pounds
Jan 9, 2010
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William Lee Wright
Apr 11, 2012
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Keith DeCarlo Smith
Dec 1, 2012
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Meggan Lee Callahan
Apr 26, 2017
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Justin James Smith
Oct 12, 2017
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Veronica Skinner Darden
Oct 12, 2017
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Wendy Letitia Shannon
Oct 30, 2017
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Allen Bruce Trivett
Oct 10, 2020
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Michael Robert Flagg
Oct 26, 2020
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Charles Warren Harris, Jr.
Oct 28, 2020
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Thomas Daniel Roberts, Jr.
Nov 16, 2020
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Joseph Lloyd Greinke
Nov 20, 2020
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Christopher Eugene Sorrenti
Nov 30, 2020
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Julian Arsenio Priest, III
Dec 24, 2020
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Anthony Lynn Hardie
Feb 6, 2021
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Ledell Graham
Aug 30, 2021
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Dennis Eugene Boykin
Oct 12, 2021
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Helen Mae Smith
Feb 3, 2022
Where
Military Service
Julian Arsenio Priest III served in the U.S. Navy (1983–1991) before joining law enforcement.
Visit Julian Arsenio Priest III’s page on salute.nw →
His full service record — units, decorations, where he served — is kept on salute.nw.
Where the Name Is Cut
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Others Who Wore This Badge
30 officers from North Carolina Department of Public Safety - Division of Adult Correction and Juvenile Justice are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
