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Esther LaFayette Lewis
Incident
Deputy Lewis was shot and killed at approximately 6:15 pm as he attempted to take a man into custody for shooting his estranged wife's dog.
As he was arresting the suspect on Highway 15-A near Fayetteville, the man drew a concealed handgun and shot Deputy Lewis four times, and then fled the scene.
The suspect was arrested, convicted of first-degree murder, and sentenced to life on January 19, 1951. He was sent to the Dorothea Dix Mental Hospital in Raleigh, where he escaped a few days later. He was recaptured in Seattle, Washington, by FBI agents on December 23, 1955. He was paroled on February 8, 1982.
Deputy Lewis was a United States Army veteran of World War I.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and child.
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 salute.nw — U.S. Army. One record, 2 gates. Esther is one person.
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Tributes
I served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Deputy Sheriff Lewis served with the Cumberland County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Fayetteville community. Thank you for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Esther LaFayette Lewis served in the U.S. Army before joining law enforcement.
The Sacrifice · Felonious
Cumberland County Sheriff's Office has lost 13 officers; 11 of them killed feloniously.
Esther is one of 385 officers killed feloniously in NC, 58% of the 664 remembered there.
Esther is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,552 remembered there.
Esther is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously worldwide, 51.7% of the 34,103 remembered here.
34,103 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1950, 1 officer at Cumberland County Sheriff's Office was killed feloniously, the 3rd heaviest of 9 years on record. The heaviest was 1920, with 2.
In 1950, 1 officer in NC was killed feloniously, the 94th heaviest of 127 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 12.
In 1950, 66 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 109th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.
In 1950, 66 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, the 117th heaviest of 265 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 516.
Who
Esther was 53. Of the 11 killed feloniously at Cumberland County Sheriff's Office whose age is recorded, half were between 40.5 and 55; the middle age was 42.
Esther was 53. Of the 370 killed feloniously in NC whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 48; the middle age was 39.
Esther was 53. Of the 14,219 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38.
Esther was 53. Of the 15,853 killed feloniously worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 38.
When
December holds 18.2% of these deaths at Cumberland County Sheriff's Office; January holds the most, 18.2%. Saturdays: 27.3%.
December holds 6.2% of these deaths in NC; May holds the most, 11.4%. Saturdays: 19.5%.
December holds 9.4% of these deaths in the United States, more than any other month. Saturdays: 16.3%.
December holds 9.2% of these deaths worldwide, more than any other month. Saturdays: 16.2%.
How
Felonious deaths account for 84.6% of all 13 deaths at Cumberland County Sheriff's Office, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun, in 27.3% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 58% of all 664 deaths in NC, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun, in 22.9% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,552 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun, in 23.4% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 51.7% of all 34,103 deaths worldwide, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun, in 20.9% of these deaths.
His people
Cumberland County Sheriff's Office has 13 officers remembered here, Esther among them.
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Frank James Dees
Nov 20, 1916
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Herman Cashwell Butler
May 21, 1920
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William Garrison Moore
May 23, 1920
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Malcon N. Blue
Jan 28, 1921
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Alfred Jackson Pate
Jul 22, 1921
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William C. Callihan
Feb 24, 1923
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Esther LaFayette Lewis
Dec 9, 1950
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Joe Smith, Jr.
Jan 5, 1974
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Ronald Gordon Smith
Sep 14, 1977
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Allen Bernard Lennon
Aug 11, 1992
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David Walter Hathcock
Sep 23, 1997
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Christopher Brian Matthews
Sep 30, 2005
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Oscar Yovani Bolanos-Anavisca, Jr.
Dec 16, 2022
Military Service
Esther LaFayette Lewis served in the U.S. Army before joining law enforcement.
Visit Esther LaFayette Lewis’s page on salute.nw →
His full service record — units, decorations, where he served — is kept on salute.nw.
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 53-E
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Also Remembered
Others Who Wore This Badge
12 officers from Cumberland County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
