Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy Sheriff Joseph Lunsford was shot and fatally wounded as he and another deputy attempted to arrest a man for severely beating his sister-in-law at Hale's Point, near Ripley. The suspect opened fire with a shotgun, with the blast hitting Deputy Lunsford in his left arm and the other deputy in the leg.
Deputy Lunsford died at Baptist Hospital in Memphis three days later after his arm was amputated when gangrene developed.
The suspect was convicted of Deputy Lunford's murder and sentenced to 21 years in prison. He was paroled February 16th, 1940. On November 21st, 1941, he shot and killed Federal Investigator William Milton Pugh during a raid of a liquor still near Dyersburg, Tennessee. He was convicted of murder and executed in the electric chair on August 14th, 1943.
Deputy Lunsford is buried in Grace Cemetery in Ripley.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-TN-9A08EF54- Stewardship
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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.
Deputy Sheriff Lunsford gave the Lauderdale County Sheriff's Office 4 years.
Thank you for your service to the Ripley community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Lunsford.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Sheriff Joseph Wyatt Lunsford 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 TN, 498 of 769 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 64.8% of this state's fallen. That is 10.6 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At Lauderdale County Sheriff's Office, 7 of 7 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Joseph Wyatt Lunsford's cause is highlighted.
How Joseph Wyatt Lunsford Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to 21 years
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Joseph Wyatt Lunsford is highlighted in Aug.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Joseph Wyatt Lunsford was killed by shotgun.
Others Who Wore This Badge
6 officers from Lauderdale County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
