Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy Sheriff Rossell Gilliam was struck and killed by a dump truck while directing traffic for the Boy Scout Jamboree at the intersection of US 264-A and State Road 1100. Deputy Gilliam was a United States Army WWII veteran who had served with the Nash County Sheriff's Office for 12 years and previously served as Chief of Police of the Middlesex Police Department for seven years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, two children, three sisters, three brothers, and three grandchildren.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-NC-D7522D31- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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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 Gilliam gave the Nash County Sheriff's Office 12 years.
Thank you for your service to the Nashville community, and 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
Rossell Edward Gilliam served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Deputy Sheriff Rossell Edward Gilliam is one of 10,088 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 31% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In NC, 205 of 664 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 30.9% of this state's fallen.
At Nash County Sheriff's Dept., 2 of 3 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 66.7% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Rossell Edward Gilliam's cause is highlighted.
How Rossell Edward Gilliam Compares
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. Rossell Edward Gilliam is highlighted in Oct.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
2 officers from Nash County Sheriff's Dept. are honored on badge.nw.
