Roll of Honor
Incident
Sheriff John E. Nelson was shot and killed as he responded to a domestic disturbance at a residence one mile north of Lucedale.
Sheriff Nelson went to the home of a local farmer after the farmer's 18-year-old daughter told him that she ran for help when her father became violent and abusive with her mother. As Sheriff Nelson stepped out of his car, he was hit by a shotgun blast fired by the father who was hiding behind a nearby fence. The suspect fled in the sheriff's car which was found 10 miles away, wrecked, with the daughter's body inside. She had also been killed by a shotgun blast. Deputies discovered the buck-shot-riddled bodies of her mother and her two-month-old daughter.
The suspect, who was captured at his mother's home in Hurley on Christmas Day, admitted that he had killed all four. He was convicted of Sheriff Nelson's murder and executed in the electric chair on February 2nd, 1951.
Sheriff Nelson was serving his term as sheriff.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, young daughter, and parents.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-MS-71C885BB- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Sheriff Nelson served with the George County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Lucedale community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sheriff Nelson.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Sheriff John Elbert Nelson is one of 17,559 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 53.9% of all 32,586 officers honored here.
In MS, 242 of 349 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 69.3% of this state's fallen. That is 15.4 percentage points above the national rate of 53.9%.
At George County Sheriff's Office, 3 of 5 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. John Elbert Nelson's cause is highlighted.
How John Elbert Nelson Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. John Elbert Nelson is highlighted in Dec.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. John Elbert Nelson was killed by shotgun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
4 officers from George County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
