Roll of Honor
Incident
Marshal Meredith Wolford succumbed to gunshot wounds sustained two days earlier while attempting to arrest a county constable.
The constable had become upset because Marshal Meredith had arrested one of his friends the previous night. Upon speaking with the constable, Marshal Wolford became fearful for his life and returned to town. He deputized a citizen and then returned to the constable's location to arrest him. As they approached, the constable opened fire, fatally wounding Marshal Wolford. The constable was also fatally shot during the battle.
Marshal Wolford was taken to a hospital in Matewan, West Virginia, where he died two days later.
God Bless You Marshal Wolford. May the good Lord above cradle you in His arms, and may you Rest in Peace my Brother in Blue.
Chris Walley Former Jail Officer/Deputy Wayne Co. Mississippi Sheriffs Department March 24th, 2012
In Our Keeping
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- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Marshal Wolford gave the Phelps Police Department 3 years.
Thank you for your service to the Phelps community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Marshal Wolford.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Marshal Meredith "Merdie" Wolford is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In KY, 755 of 983 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 76.8% of this state's fallen. That is 22.6 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Meredith "Merdie" Wolford's cause is highlighted.
How Meredith "Merdie" Wolford Compares
Offender Outcome
Shot and killed
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Meredith "Merdie" Wolford is highlighted in Oct.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Meredith "Merdie" Wolford was killed by handgun.