Joseph Coody

Georgia Dept. of Corrections — Atlanta, GA

Felonious

End of Watch March 21, 1912

Age 40

The Vigil Panel 26 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 37

Incident

Guard Joseph Coody was killed by an inmate who attacked him with a shovel at a penitentiary convict camp one mile outside of Cochran, Georgia.

The inmate then seized Guard Coody's revolver and opened fire on two other guards who returned fire wounding the suspect.

Later that day the inmate was being taken to Hawkinsville by sheriff's deputies when a mob of 50 men seized and lynched him.

he meant he world to me and to see him gone now... it just hurts because, it wasnt his fault that the inmate was arrested.

jamiya haper uncle November 2nd, 2017

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-GA-37FC81A8
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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.
Guard Coody served with the Georgia Department of Corrections.
Thank you for your service to the people of Georgia. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Guard Coody.

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

Agency

Department Georgia Dept. of Corrections

Location Atlanta, GA

Platform Identity gdcorr.fulton.ga.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch March 21, 1912

Age 40

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Cause Detail Assault

Weapon Blunt object; Shovel

Offender Lynched

Guard Joseph Coody 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 GA, 548 of 903 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.7% of this state's fallen. That is 6.5 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At Georgia Dept. of Corrections, 16 of 38 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 42.1% of this agency's fallen.

Georgia Dept. of Corrections

of 38 officers

42.1% Felonious

GA — Statewide

548

of 903 officers

60.7% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious