Joe Clay
Incident
Sergeant Clay was killed in an automobile accident while pursuing a violator on a Winston County road. The patrol car Sergeant Clay was riding in went out of control and crashed. Sergeant Clay's partner received minor injuries. The suspect was never apprehended. Sergeant Clay had been with the agency for 15 years and was assigned to Troop H.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and son.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
neuraspine_01krbxtpc20vggg9hrfx5fqabe- 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 Joe. 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.
Sergeant Clay gave the Mississippi Department of Public Safety 15 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of Mississippi. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sergeant Clay.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Accident
Mississippi Department of Public Safety - Mississippi Highway Patrol has lost 28 officers; 17 of them lost to accidents.
Joe is one of 89 officers lost to accidents in MS, 25.4% of the 350 remembered there.
Joe is one of 8,275 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% of the 27,551 remembered there.
Joe is one of 10,100 officers lost to accidents worldwide, 29.8% of the 33,917 remembered here.
33,917 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1974, 1 officer at Mississippi Department of Public Safety - Mississippi Highway Patrol was lost to accidents, more than in any other year.
In 1974, 1 officer in MS was lost to accidents, the 20th heaviest of 64 years on record. The heaviest was 1989, with 4.
In 1974, 98 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 9th heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.
In 1974, 106 officers worldwide were lost to accidents, the 13th heaviest of 200 years on record. The heaviest was 1930, with 131.
Who
Joe was 53. Of the 17 lost to accidents at Mississippi Department of Public Safety - Mississippi Highway Patrol whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 48; the middle age was 35. Joe had served 15 years; the middle length of service was 15 years.
Joe was 53. Of the 83 lost to accidents in MS whose age is recorded, half were between 32 and 52; the middle age was 43. Joe had served 15 years; the middle length of service was 8 years.
Joe was 53. Of the 7,718 lost to accidents in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 46; the middle age was 36. Joe had served 15 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Joe was 53. Of the 9,451 lost to accidents worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 45; the middle age was 36. Joe had served 15 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
May holds 17.6% of these deaths at Mississippi Department of Public Safety - Mississippi Highway Patrol; October holds the most, 17.6%. Mondays: 11.8%.
May holds 16.9% of these deaths in MS, more than any other month. Mondays: 15.7%.
May holds 8.6% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.5%. Mondays: 13.4%.
May holds 8.4% of these deaths worldwide; August holds the most, 9.3%. Mondays: 13.5%.
How
Accident deaths account for 60.7% of all 28 deaths at Mississippi Department of Public Safety - Mississippi Highway Patrol, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was automobile, in 11.8% of these deaths.
Accident deaths account for 25.4% of all 350 deaths in MS, the 2nd most common cause. The weapon recorded was automobile, in 7.9% of these deaths.
Accident deaths account for 30% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the 2nd most common cause. The weapon recorded was automobile, in 6.9% of these deaths.
Accident deaths account for 29.8% of all 33,917 deaths worldwide, the 2nd most common cause. The weapon recorded was automobile, in 5.6% of these deaths.
His people
Mississippi Department of Public Safety - Mississippi Highway Patrol has 28 officers remembered here, Joe among them.
-
Adrian Cole
Sep 8, 1940
-
Loma Laine Dyess
Oct 27, 1942
-
James Mortimer Barry
Feb 1, 1947
-
Cyril J. Reichert
Feb 5, 1947
-
James H. Tingle
Sep 7, 1950
-
Herbert E. Nixon
Apr 22, 1951
-
Carl M. Thach
Jan 15, 1954
-
Walter W. Smith
Sep 22, 1955
-
Hurfu L. Duckworth
Aug 19, 1959
-
Daniel E. Smith
Nov 7, 1959
-
Julian Davis
Nov 27, 1963
-
Marcus Lamastus
Jul 17, 1965
-
Joseph A. Pol
Nov 27, 1965
-
Tommy E. Kendall
May 16, 1966
-
William Kenny
Dec 21, 1967
-
William O. Swindoll
Oct 5, 1968
-
Joe Clay
May 27, 1974
-
Billy M. Langham
Dec 31, 1981
-
George Danny Nash, Jr.
Feb 4, 1983
-
Steven K. Gardner
Mar 23, 1984
-
James Kenneth Bounds
Oct 21, 1984
-
David Bruce Ladner
Apr 12, 1987
-
Ralph R. Newell
Oct 28, 1988
-
Tommie Earl Owens
Jul 28, 1989
-
Bobby L. Wells, Jr.
Jun 27, 1995
-
Paul Denham, III
Dec 27, 1999
-
Steve Loy Hood
May 29, 2009
-
John Martin Harris
May 28, 2021
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 64-W
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Others Who Wore This Badge
27 officers from Mississippi Department of Public Safety - Mississippi Highway Patrol are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.















