Prev
Incident
Deputy Sheriff Fielding Applebury succumbed to a gunshot wound he received seven hours earlier when he was serving a warrant in the Arlington section of Shelby County.
Deputy Applebury received a warrant for the arrest of a man on the charge of disturbing the peace. He went to the man's home on the Covington Pike, three miles north of Arlington, in a horse-drawn buggy and located the man outside, and informed him of the warrant.
The man replied he that wasn't going to be arrested, raised a shotgun and shot Deputy Applebury in the abdomen. The man then fled the location on foot.
Deputy Applebury had served with the Shelby County Sheriff's Office for 15 years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and son.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
neuraspine_01krbxtnm9f1b3zggmn55y91d8- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew Fielding. 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
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Deputy Sheriff Applebury gave the Shelby County Sheriff's Office 15 years.
Thank you for your service to the Memphis community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Applebury.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Felonious
Shelby County Sheriff's Office has lost 21 officers; 13 of them killed feloniously.
Fielding is one of 498 officers killed feloniously in TN, 64.8% of the 769 remembered there.
Fielding is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.
Fielding is one of 17,631 officers killed feloniously worldwide, 51.7% of the 34,117 remembered here.
34,117 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1920, 2 officers at Shelby County Sheriff's Office were killed feloniously, more than in any other year.
In 1920, 6 officers in TN were killed feloniously, the 23rd heaviest of 147 years on record. The heaviest was 1931, with 12.
In 1920, 209 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 9th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.
In 1920, 396 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, the 2nd heaviest of 265 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 516.
Who
Fielding was 55. Of the 12 killed feloniously at Shelby County Sheriff's Office whose age is recorded, half were between 31.8 and 50.5; the middle age was 42.5. Fielding had served 15 years; the middle length of service was 4.6 years.
Fielding was 55. Of the 449 killed feloniously in TN whose age is recorded, half were between 32 and 50; the middle age was 41. Fielding had served 15 years; the middle length of service was 5 years.
Fielding was 55. Of the 14,220 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. Fielding had served 15 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Fielding was 55. Of the 15,854 killed feloniously worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 38. Fielding had served 15 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
December holds 15.4% of these deaths at Shelby County Sheriff's Office; July holds the most, 30.8%. Fridays: 30.8%.
December holds 10.2% of these deaths in TN, more than any other month. Fridays: 14.9%.
December holds 9.4% of these deaths in the United States, more than any other month. Fridays: 14.3%.
December holds 9.2% of these deaths worldwide, more than any other month. Fridays: 14.3%.
How
Felonious deaths account for 61.9% of all 21 deaths at Shelby County Sheriff's Office, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was shotgun, in 15.4% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 64.8% of all 769 deaths in TN, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was shotgun, in 12.7% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was shotgun, in 7% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 51.7% of all 34,117 deaths worldwide, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was shotgun, in 6.3% of these deaths.
His people
Shelby County Sheriff's Office has 21 officers remembered here, Fielding among them.
-
Houston Mitchell Jul 11, 1904
-
Thomas J. McDermott Jul 12, 1904
-
W. H. Lucy
Feb 25, 1910
-
James C. Nelson Oct 29, 1917
-
George Taylor Reeves
Nov 30, 1920
-
Fielding F. Applebury
Dec 17, 1920
-
Charles C. Wortham
Oct 7, 1925
-
Edward William Stelling
Jul 5, 1945
-
Olney Benton Crawford
Mar 24, 1946
-
Deadrick A. Taylor
Apr 19, 1996
-
Sherry Hopper Goodman
Jul 26, 1996
-
Rupert Holliday Peete, Jr.
Mar 8, 2000
-
George Monroe Selby
Dec 4, 2002
-
Timothy Howard Dunn
Oct 29, 2004
-
Ronald L. Ray
Dec 17, 2013
-
Jeremy Devaughn Smith
Apr 21, 2020
-
Anthony Terrance Jackson, Sr.
Dec 25, 2020
-
Willie Lois Dortch
Apr 9, 2021
-
Ray William McCrary, Jr.
Jul 20, 2021
-
Lakiesha Lashay Tucker
Aug 25, 2021
-
Bridgette Lachelle Hunter
Feb 17, 2022
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 33-E
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Others Who Wore This Badge
20 officers from Shelby County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
