Officer Memorial

      Mellie was raised in Calhoun County and attended Altha School. At one time she managed the Cato Store in Marianna, FL. Afterwards she was employed at Woolworth, Then later at South Trust bank of Marianna, where she worked for ten years.

      Mellie came to work with the Jackson County Sheriff's Department in September of 1997 as a Victim's Advocate. In 2006, she transferred from Domestic Violence work to assisting the Department of Children and Families on child abuse cases.

      Mellis always took her work very seriously, protecting battered or abused women and children. Her life has always been about helping other people.

      Mellie was murdered on January 30, 2007, in the driveway of her home by a man who was suspected of killing his own wife back in 2001, and his accomplice.

      Mellie was a Baptist, and she belonged to the optimist Club and the Order of the Eastern Star.

      Mellie leaves behind a two daughters, one son,5 grandchildren, and her husband, John P. McDaniel, Sheriff of Jackson County, who she has spent the past thirteen years of her life with.

      Deputy Harold "Mike" Altman was shot and killed while responding to a call for help at the home of the Sheriff.

      He was the first unit to arrive and found the Sheriff's wife had been shot. Two armed men opened fire on Deputy Altman killing him.

      The Sheriff and two deputies arrived at the scene moments later and became involved in a gun fight with the two men, killing both of them.

      Born 05-09-1964, He was married and had two children.

      Three year old Struck by car.

      On the Night of April 4th, 1985, Sgt James Bevis responded to an armed robbery which had just occurred in a small town in Jackson County.

      Deputy Bevis spotted a vehicle which matched the description of the vehicle used in the armed robbery.

      He began to follow then stopped the vehicle. He got the suspects out of the vehicle and advised the station that he was o.k. that he had the suspects and a gun and purse that had been taken in the robbery.

      One of the suspects jumped Deputy Bevis, took his gun and then the two suspects shot Deputy Bevis three times with his own gun. He died as a result of those wounds at the scene.

      Born 03-14-1945, He was married and had two children.

      In the early morning hours of the 4th of July 1963, three convicted inmates in the Jackson County Jail set fire to their cotton mattresses in an attempt to escape.

      The Jailor called the local fire department and the inmates were taken out of their cells. The inmates were overcome by the toxic fumes of the burning mattresses, but revived in the street in front of the jail.

      The inmates were taken to Jackson Hospital for treatment. Deputies Creel and Finch were to guard the prisoners.

      One inmate, Weaver expressed a need to go to the bathroom. The deputies escorted him to the bath room.

      Inmate Weaver (being a big man)jumped one of the deputies and managed to get his gun.

      Inmate Weaver shot and killed both deputies. They both died as a result of their wounds that morning.

      He was married and had four children.

      In the early morning hours of the 4th of July 1963, three convicted inmates in the Jackson County Jail set fire to their cotton mattresses in an attempt to escape.

      The Jailor called the local fire department and the inmates were taken out of their cells. The inmates were overcome by the toxic fumes of the burning mattresses, but revived in the street in front of the jail.

      The inmates were taken to Jackson Hospital for treatment. Deputies Finch and Creel were to guard the prisoners.

      One inmate, Weaver expressed a need to go to the bathroom. The deputies escorted him to the bath room.

      Inmate Weaver (being a big man)jumped one of the deputies and managed to get his gun.

      Inmate Weaver shot and killed both deputies. They both died as a result of their wounds that morning.

      Born 09-23-1921, He was married and had one child.

      Deputy Sheriff William D. Thomas was on routine patrol when he was advised of a drunken driver on Hwy 231.

      Deputy Thomas spotted the suspect vehicle and gave chase.

      Deputy Thomas lost control of his vehicle at a high rate of speed and wrecked. He died as a result of his injuries.

      Deputy Thomas was born 03-17-1899.

      Deputy Sheriff Dave Hamm and Sheriff Flake Chambliss were in route to deliver three convicted bank robbers to the Washington County Jail.

      While enroute one of the bank robbers pulled a gun (which was slipped to him in the court room) and started shooting in the vehicle.

      One of the bank robbers, Robert McKinney and Deputy Hamm both died of gun shot wounds in the Washington County Hospital.

     A 30 year old Deputy Sheriff John Ivey went to a moonshine whisky raid and was shot during that raid by Talmage Schuller.

      Deputy Ivey was born November 20, 1890.

      He left behind a wife and one son who was 3 years old.