J. C. Woodham
Agency patch
Sheriff

J. C. Woodham

Felonious
End of Watch August 7, 1957
Age 48
The Vigil Panel 93 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Sheriff J.C. Woodham succumbed to gunshot wounds sustained three days earlier when he stopped two suspects who had stolen narcotics from a local hospital. The two suspects were arrested in Pensacola, Florida, the day after the shooting. In November 1957 both suspects were convicted of first degree murder. One was sentenced to life in prison and the other was sentenced to death. The death sentence was later commuted to life. Both men died in prison.

Survivors

Sheriff Woodham was survived by his two teenage children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-AL-486260D1
Stewardship
Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew J.. Claim this record.

This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.

Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Sheriff Woodham served with the Geneva County Sheriff's Department.
Thank you for your service to the Geneva community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sheriff Woodham.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Type Sheriff's Office
Location Geneva, Geneva County, AL
Platform Identity gcso.geneva.al.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch August 7, 1957
Age 48
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun

Sheriff J. C. Woodham is one of 1 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,772 officers honored here.

In AL, 405 of 643 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 63% of this state's fallen. That is 63 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At Geneva County Sheriff's Department, 2 of 2 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.

Geneva County Sheriff's Department
2
of 2 officers
100% Felonious
AL — Statewide
405
of 643 officers
63% Felonious
Nationwide
1
of 97,772 officers
0% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. J. C. Woodham's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
1 (0%)
Accident
1 (0%)
Illness
1 (0%)
Cardiac
1 (0%)
Undetermined
1 (0%)
Suicide
1 (0%)

How J. C. Woodham Compares

Age at Death
48
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. J. C. Woodham is highlighted in Aug.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,516
May
1,504
Jun
1,442
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,517
Sep
1,491
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. J. C. Woodham was killed by gun.

Handgun
3,684
Gun
3,592
Gun; Unknown type
1,492
Shotgun
1,109
Rifle
935
Officer's handgun
909

Others Who Wore This Badge

1 officer from Geneva County Sheriff's Department are honored on badge.nw.