Roll of Honor
Incident
Sheriff Samuel Lewis was shot and killed while attempting to quell a disturbance at a local polling station. Tennessee's governor had sent the militia to the various polling stations in an attempt to control the polls in his favor. As a result, riots broke out around the state, including at the polling station in the town of Purdy. The local citizens called Sheriff Lewis to the location, and as he attempted to bring the two groups to peace, shots were fired. Sheriff Lewis, who was caught in the middle, received fatal wounds. Sheriff Lewis was a United States Civil War Union Army veteran and had served with the McNairy County Sheriff's Office for two years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-TN-965DF57F- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute - 1 candle.
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Also honored at salute.nw — U.S. Army. One record, 2 gates. Samuel 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.
Sheriff Lewis gave the McNairy County Sheriff's Office 2 years.
Thank you for your service to the Selmer 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
Samuel Lewis served in the U.S. Army before joining law enforcement.
Sheriff Samuel Lewis 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 TN, 498 of 769 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 64.8% of this state's fallen. That is 64.8 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At McNairy County Sheriff's Office, 3 of 6 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 50% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Samuel Lewis's cause is highlighted.
How Samuel Lewis Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Samuel Lewis is highlighted in Jul.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Samuel Lewis was killed by gun.
Military Service
Samuel Lewis served in the U.S. Army before joining law enforcement.
Visit Samuel Lewis’s page on salute.nw →
His full service record — units, decorations, where he served — is kept on salute.nw.
Others Who Wore This Badge
5 officers from McNairy County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
