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Joseph Lillard Simms
Agency patch
Guard

Joseph Lillard Simms

Tennessee Department of Correction — Nashville, TN
Felonious
United States flag Tennessee flag
End of Watch March 12, 1937
Age 45
Tour of Duty 3 yrs
The Vigil Panel 158 · Column 4 · Line 11 ›
Gender Male
Incident Media Service The Sacrifice Memorials 1 Department 13

Incident

Guard Joseph Simms was stabbed to death inside the state penitentiary by a death row inmate who was attempting to escape.

Guard Simms and another guard were delivering food to all of the death row inmates. The cell doors could be opened but were secured with a chain that prevented them from opening more than 12 inches.

When Guard Simms opened the door, the inmate asked him to place a stool inside the cell. Guard Simms removed the chain and as he bent down to put the stool in the cell, the inmate stabbed him in the neck with a 3-inch knife.

The inmate then ran out of the cell and knocked down another guard. The other guard got up and opened fire on the suspect, striking him in the head twice, killing him. The suspect was scheduled to be executed the following week for a double murder two years earlier.

Guard Simms had served with the Department of Correction for 3 years, and had previously served as an officer with the Nashville Police Department.

Survivors

He is survived by his wife, son, two daughters, grandson, and parents.

In Our Keeping

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Stewardship
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August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Guard Simms gave the Tennessee Department of Correction 3 years.
Thank you for your service to the Nashville community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Guard Simms.

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

Agency

Department Tennessee Department of Correction
Type Corrections
Location Nashville, Davidson County, TN
Platform Identity tdc.davidson.tn.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch March 12, 1937
Tour of Duty 3 yrs
Age 45
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Cause Detail Stabbed
Weapon Edged weapon; Knife

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Joseph is one of 15,742 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.

34,102 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

  3. See the roll
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Compare against
I

Time

In 1937, 123 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 41st heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Joseph was 45. Of the 14,219 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. Joseph had served 3 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

Age at death
Where he stood among them
Age by years of service
III

When

March holds 7.5% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Fridays: 14.3%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was edged weapon; knife, in 0.8% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

Tennessee Department of Correction has 14 officers remembered here, Joseph among them.

Across the years

Guard Joseph Lillard Simms

Tennessee Department of Correction · End of Watch March 12, 1937

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 33-E

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