Jody Jerome Smith
Agency patch
Deputy Sheriff

Jody Jerome Smith

Carroll County Sheriff's Office — Carrollton, GA
Illness
End of Watch September 3, 2021
Age 48
Tour of Duty 8 yrs
The Vigil Panel 176 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Deputy Sheriff Jody Smith died from complications as the result of contracting COVID-19 in the line of duty.

Deputy Smith served with the Carroll County Sheriff's Office for eight years.

COVID-19 and Law Enforcement

Deputy Sheriff Jody Jerome Smith died on September 3, 2021 of COVID-19 contracted in the line of duty. He was 48.

He is one of 884 officers honored here.

Beginning in early 2020, law enforcement officers across the country contracted COVID-19 in the course of their duties. While much of the nation sheltered at home, they kept answering calls, making arrests, transporting prisoners, and working face to face with the public. There was no distance to be had from the job.

Corrections officers were hit hardest. Confined facilities and large populations meant constant, close, unavoidable exposure.

Survivors

He is survived by his wife, daughter, son, daughter-in-law, and granddaughter.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-GA-598F6F64
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.

Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew Jody. Claim this record.

This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.

Tributes

The country locked its doors. You kept working.
Deputy Sheriff Smith gave the Carroll County Sheriff's Office 8 years.
Thank you for your service to the Carrollton community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Smith.

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

Agency

Location Carrollton, GA
Platform Identity ccso.carroll.ga.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch September 3, 2021
Tour of Duty 8 yrs
Age 48
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Illness
Cause Detail COVID19

Deputy Sheriff Jody Jerome Smith is one of 2,974 officers lost to illness connected to their service across the full record of this memorial — 9.1% of all 32,508 officers honored here.

In GA, 63 of 903 officers were lost to illness connected to their service — 7% of this state's fallen. That is 2.1 percentage points below the national rate of 9.1%.

At Carroll County Sheriff's Office, 1 of 4 officers on record were lost to illness connected to their service — 25% of this agency's fallen.

Carroll County Sheriff's Office
1
of 4 officers
25% Illness
GA — Statewide
63
of 903 officers
7% Illness
Nationwide
2,974
of 32,508 officers
9.1% Illness

National Cause Distribution

How Illness compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Jody Jerome Smith's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
17,623 (54.2%)
Accident
10,088 (31%)
Illness
2,974 (9.1%)
Cardiac
1,306 (4%)
Undetermined
260 (0.8%)
Suicide
256 (0.8%)
vehicular
1 (0%)

How Jody Jerome Smith Compares

Age at End of Watch
48
This officer
Avg for Illness: 47.8 years
Years of Service
8
This officer
Avg for Illness: 18.9 years

When Illness Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Illness deaths across the full memorial record. Jody Jerome Smith is highlighted in Sep.

Jan
294
Feb
198
Mar
185
Apr
226
May
201
Jun
181
Jul
217
Aug
281
Sep
291
Oct
376
Nov
239
Dec
285

Incident Location