Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy Sheriff Bud Willingham was killed in a vehicle pursuit of a suspected bootlegger.
He and his partner were chasing the man steep, curving section of highway in Abel's Gap when Deputy Willingham's car left the roadway and overturned. Both deputies were thrown from the vehicle. Deputy Willingham was killed while the other deputy was injured.
The other vehicle crashed a short distance away and the driver was arrested following a massive search.
Deputy Willingham served with the Cleburne County Sheriff's Office for seven years.
Deputy Sheriff Bud Willingham was my Grandfather. 56 years ago he was on duty in pursuit and he had a car accident and did not survive. That day changed our family. He served Cleburne County daily and on that day gave his life. To all the law officers that serve our communities every day and lay their lives on the line daily, we thank you for your service. On behalf of my family, we appreciate the above reflection that have written about my grandfather’s service as a law officer.
Daughter - Helen Irene Willingham Williamson Granddaughter- Brenda Walker Gunter
Brenda W. Gunter Family May 17th, 2018
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-AL-18CFBD5E- 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 never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Deputy Sheriff Willingham gave the Cleburne County Sheriff's Office 7 years.
Thank you for your service to the Heflin community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Willingham.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Sheriff Troy Clifton "Bud" Willingham 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 AL, 182 of 643 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 28.3% of this state's fallen. That is 2.7 percentage points below the national rate of 31%.
At Cleburne County Sheriff's Office, 1 of 2 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 50% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Troy Clifton "Bud" Willingham's cause is highlighted.
How Troy Clifton "Bud" Willingham Compares
Offender Outcome
Apprehended
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. Troy Clifton "Bud" Willingham is highlighted in Apr.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from Cleburne County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
