James Benjamin Ramsey

Clay County Sheriff's Dept. — Piggott, AR

Felonious

End of Watch July 7, 1920

Age 48

Tour of Duty 2 yrs 7 mo

The Vigil Panel 39 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 4

Incident

Deputy Sheriff James Ramsey succumbed to gunshot wounds he received when he was shot while raiding a liquor still on a farm in Ashland. Deputy Ramsey, the sheriff, and two officers were searching a barn when the man shot Deputy Ramsey before fleeing. Deputy Ramsey was taken to his home, where he died from his wounds five days later. The suspect was convicted of the murder and sentenced to 40 years in prison. The Alabama Supreme Court granted him a new trial, and he was convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to 17 years. In 1923, he was awarded a third trial, convicted of manslaughter, and sentenced to one year. Deputy Ramsey had served with the Clay County Sheriff's Office for seven months and previously served with the Ashland Police Department for at least two years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife, three daughters, and four siblings.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-AR-AF82967A
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 Ramsey gave the Clay County Sheriff's Department 2 years.
Thank you for your service to the Piggott community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Ramsey.

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

Agency

Department Clay County Sheriff's Dept.

Location Piggott, AR

Platform Identity ccso.clay.ar.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch July 7, 1920

Tour of Duty 2 yrs 7 mo

Age 48

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Gun; Unknown type

Offender Served 3 years

Deputy Sheriff James Benjamin Ramsey 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 AR, 249 of 372 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 66.9% of this state's fallen. That is 12.7 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At Clay County Sheriff's Dept., 4 of 5 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 80% of this agency's fallen.

Clay County Sheriff's Dept.

of 5 officers

80% Felonious

AR — Statewide

249

of 372 officers

66.9% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious