I'm the law in these parts

Lee County Library System
3 1032 00567978 8
Lee County Library
Leesburg,GA
Im the Law in
These Parts
Sheriffs
Lee County, Georgia
1896 to Present
by
Lee Stanley
April 1999
This booklet is for my son Chris,
with a fathers love and pride,
you are a great joy in my life.
Yet age remembers with a sigh
The days that are no more.
A
Lee County Sheriffs
1896-Present
These, having not the law, are a law unto themselves.
[Romans 2:14]
Several years ago, when I read the book, The
Wild Man from Sugar Creek, The Political
Career of Eugene Talmadge, by William
Anderson, I was amazed by the political tact and
sophistication of Gene Talmadge. He knew how to
excite the voters and his courthouse speeches are
now part of Georgias political history. He also
knew the political power and influence of the county
Sheriff. Governor Talmadge, one of this centurys
most colorful state politicians, knew how much local
people respected their Sheriff. After all, the Sheriff
was the highest ranking law enforcement officer of
the county and he usually knew almost every single
citizen in his area, at least those who voted.
Governor Talmadges courthouse appearances and
speeches gathered huge crowds, he could jam any
courthouse. Before giving one of his speeches, Gene
would call on the sheriff: Sheriff, would you come
up and estimate how many people have come here
today? With great officiousness, the Sheriff would
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Sheriffs of Lee County since 1896
come forward to cast an intensely critical eye at the
throng, and all could see the mathematical
calculations running through his head. A hush would
fall over the area as everyone stood a little taller,
certain he was being individually counted when that
cold eye of justice passed over. Having the Sheriff
make the count made the total official. Gene
Talmadge knew the importance of having the Sheriff
present at his local speeches and he used the power
and influence of the Sheriffs office to his political
advantage.
Even after the Talmadge years, I think the political
power and influence of the local county Sheriff
remains safely intact. In Lee County, over the years,
the Sheriff has been and is today, in my opinion, the
most powerful local county official. After having
worked more than 24 years in the Lee County
Courthouse next to Sheriff Forrester, Sheriff Bowyer
and now, Sheriff Breeden, I have witnessed first hand
the power and influence of the office. The presence
of the Sheriff at a public meeting, at a crime scene or
in a courtroom brings authenticity to the
surroundings. The law has arrived.
The Sheriff (shire reeve) in late Anglo-Saxon and
early Norman England served as the judicial,
financial, and administrative chief of the shires. For
hundreds of years, the Sheriff has been the
representative of royal authority in a shire. Since
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Sheriffs of Lee County since 1896
1776, in the State of Georgia, the Sheriff remains as
the countys highest law enforcement officer.
Lee County was created in 1825 and the first Sheriff,
Nathan Powell, was commissioned on May 14,1827.
Many of the older records between his term and 1896
are not complete and therefore, an accurate account
of the names and dates of service is not possible.
However, records since 1896 are complete and
during this century, nine individuals have served Lee
County as Sheriff. The purpose of this booklet is to
summarize the names, dates, and places of burial of
each of our Lee County Sheriffs for the past 100
years. There has been no attempt to reflect any
personal history of the Sheriffs in this booklet. Some
of the dates of office in obituaries and newspaper
accounts, along with court records do not match
exactly.
The term of office today for county constitutional
officers is four years, as it was in 1827 with the first
Lee County Sheriff. The information presented here
was obtained from obituaries in the Lee County
Journal and the Albany Herald. For authenticity, the
obituaries have been re-written exactly as they
appeared in the papers. Additional information was
obtained from the 1983 edition of the History of Lee
County, Georgia and from the grave markers of the
Sheriffs at the Leesburg Cemetery, Macedonia
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Sheriffs of Lee County since 1896
Church Cemetery in Terrell County and at the
Martin Cemetery in Lee County.
Edward Borin (E.B.) Martin
1896-1904
Bom on December 3, 1853 - Died April 16,1919.
Mr. Martins greatest interest were farming,
accumulating land, and participating in county
politics. At one time, he owned several thousand
acres in Lee County. He was elected tax collector in
1885 and served for four years. He was later elected
Sheriff and he was a member of the General
Assembly of Georgia in 1910-1911. Foranumberof
years, he was a member of the Board of Education
and Chairman of the County Executive Committee.
Obituary
The Lee County Journal
E.B. Martin, Sr. was found dead in bed at his home
Tuesday morning by a servant. When Mr. Martin
failed to rise at the accustomed hour, an investigation
was made, resulting in the discovery that he had
passed away during the night.
Mr. Martin is survived by three sons, Judge W.G.
Martin, M.M. Martin and E.B. Martin, Jr. He was
65 years old and practically all of his life was spent in
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Sheriffs of Lee County since 1896
Lee County.
News of his sudden death proved a profound shock
to the people of this community, with whose affairs
he had been so prominently identified.
The funeral and interment took place Wednesday, the
body being laid to rest in the Martin private cemetery
at the old home two miles from Leesburg.
Sidney Blackston Smith
1904-1912
Bom August 16, 1862 - Died May 17, 1930.
Sheriff Smith had a very long and eloquent obituary.
He is buried in the same small private cemetery
(Martin Cemetery) next to Sheriff E.B. Martin.
Obituary
The Lee County Journal
After an illness of 10 days duration, Mr. S.B. Smith
died at his country home Friday night at 10 oclock.
He had been ill for several days and was reported to
be improving when a turn for the worse was noticed
Friday morning, death ensuing Friday night.
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Sheriffs of Lee County since 1896
Sidney Blackstone Smith was bom in Terrell County
67 years ago. In early childhood he moved to Lee
County and spent his useful life here. He engaged in
farming and was one of the countys most successful
planters.
When a young man, Mr. Smith was wedded to Miss
Floride Ware, of Leesburg, who lived only a few
years.
Mr. Smith was a consistent member of the Leesburg
Presbyterian Church and prominent in Masonic
affairs. He was one of Lee Countys most beloved
citizens and everybodys friend. Everybody loved
him, he was-charitable to a fault, was kind, gentle and
always considerate for others and at all times ready
to oblige a friend.
For two terms, Mr. Smith was the Sheriff of Lee
County and was an excellent officer, faithful to every
public trust, kind and considerate to the unfortunate,
yet efficient in office. He carried out his obligation
and as a public official he knew neither fear nor
favor. After serving his two terms he retired from
office. Mr. Smith when living in Leesburg served his
town as city councilman and was instrumental in the
up building of all civic advancements. As a County
Commissioner he was always at his post serving for
the advancement of Lee County.
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Sheriffs of Lee County since 1896
In 1898, Mr. Smith was married to Miss Bee Harris
of Milledgeville, who has been ever a help and
inspiration to him through lifes rosy and rocky path,
and who survives him.
He was a high toned Christian gentleman, a desirable
citizen and a valuable asset to the community and his
place will be difficult to fill. Thousands of people to
whom he was a friend today mourn the passing of
this good man.
The deceased is survived by the following family: His
widow, Mrs. Bee Smith, five daughters, Mrs. W.A.
Thompson, Troy, Ala.; Mrs. W. T. Whatley,
Reynolds; Mrs. M.B. Shepherd, Hickory, N.C.;
Misses Mary and Dorothy Smith, Leesburg; one son,
Sidney B. Smith, Columbus; two grandchildren,
Gloria Whatley, and Millard Shepherd, Jr.
Funeral services for Mr. Smith were held at the home
Sunday at 3:30 oclock with Rev. L.G. Henderson
conducting the ceremonies. Interment took place at
the private cemetery near the home. The services
were most impressive and when the sweet voices of
the singers wafted on the air, broken hearts gave vent
to their emotion and every eye was filled with tears.
The floral contributions were most elaborate and
beautiful. The casket was adorned with springs
sweetest and loveliest flowers.
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Sheriffs of Lee County since 1896
An exceedingly large concourse of friends
attended the last sad rites. The following gentlemen
acted as pall bearers: W.E. Tarpley, N.A. Wade, J.B.
Darby, R.R. Green, H.B. Stovall, J.D. McBride.
Honorary pall bearers were J. M. Johnson, J. I.
Kaylor, S.J. Powell, J.J. Forrester, U.F. King,
W.G.Martin, E.B. Martin, D.B. Ohlinger.
David Raymond Moreland
1912-1915
Bom December 13, 1888 - Died December 19,1915.
Sheriff Moreland died from three bullet wounds he
received in a gunfight. The shooting took place in
Doles, just east of Lee County. Sheriff Moreland
was investigating the report of a stolen mule. A frill
account of the shooting was reported in the
December 20,1915 issue of the Albany Herald. He
died 6 days after his 27th birthday.
Obituary
The Albany Herald
The funeral services of Sheriff D.R. Moreland, of
Lee County, who was mortally wounded in the
tragedy at Doles Saturday night, as a consequence of
which he died at the Pheobe Putney Memorial
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Sheriffs of Lee County since 1896
Hospital here Sunday morning, were conducted
yesterday afternoon at 1 oclock at Macedonia
Church in Terrell county, 12 miles west of Leesburg
and interment was in the family burying ground at
that place.
The services were largely attended by people from
Lee, Dougherty, Terrell, Worth and other adjoining
counties and the tribute paid evidenced the very high
esteem in which he was held as a public official and
as a man. Five brothers of the deceased and a
nephew were pall bearers.
Phillip Cook Coxwell, Sr.
1916-1925
Bom September 22, 1890 - Died March 4, 1953
Obituary
The Albany Herald
P.C. Coxwell, Sr., 62, of Leesburg, died today in the
Pheobe Putney Hospital. Mr. Coxwell was bom in
Terrell County and was the son of the late W.B.
Coxwell and Sally McLendon Coxwell. He moved to
Leesburg in 1909 and married Miss Lula Hines of
Leesburg who preceded him in death in 1949. Mr.
Coxwell attended school in Terrell County and also
the Creighton Business College in Atlanta.
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Sheriffs of Lee County since 1896
He served as deputy Sheriff of Lee County from
1908-1916 and was elected Sheriff in 1916 serving jn
that capacity until 1925. At one time he served as
superintendent of road service in Lee County. At the
time of his death, Mr. Coxwell was engaged in
farming.
He is survived by four children; Mrs. Tommy Tucker
of Leesburg; Mrs. Jack Collier of Dawson; William
Coxwell of Leesburg, and Phil Coxwell Jr. of Albany;
one sister, Mrs. J.S. Moreland of Leesburg; one
brother, W. M. Coxwell of Leesburg, and eight
grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held Thursday at 3:30 p.m. in
the Leesburg Baptist Church with the Rev. Ashton
Smith, pastor and the Rev. R.H. Forrester officiating.
Interment will follow in the Leesburg cemetery.
Pallbearers are A. A. May, R. A. Forrester, George D.
Moreland Jr., C.C. Allen, Edwin L. Forrester and
James W. Forester.
William Edward Tarpley
1926-1952
Bom on July 12, 1880 - Died on December 26, 1965.
Mr. Tarpley moved to Lee County from Miller
County in 1915. For several years, he was overseer
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Sheriffs of Lee County since 1896
of the Bynes Plantation (Haley Farms) in the Palmyra
District. Mr. Tarpley was active in Lee County
politics. He was Chairman of the County Board of
Commissioners from 1924-1926 and then served as
Sheriff from 1926 to 1952. The Tarpley house is
located on Walnut Street in Leesburg.
Obituary
The Albany Herald
W. E. Tarpley, 85, retired Sheriff of Lee County,
died Sunday morning in a Dawson hospital following
an illness.
He was bom July 12, 1880 in Marshallville, son of
the later Anna VanLandingham and Thomas Manse
Tarpley. He had been a resident of Lee county for 51
years, moving here from Miller County.
For 24 years, Mr. Tarpley served as Sheriff of Lee
County, retiring January 1, 1952. Before seeking
office for Sheriff, he farmed for a number of years in
the Palmyra district. He was a member, trustee and
honorary steward of the Leesburg Methodist Church.
On September 11, 1961, the Leesburg Lions Club
awarded a certificate of appreciation to Mr. Tarpley
for his long and valued service and leadership to Lee
County.
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Sheriffs of Lee County since 1896
His wife, the former Miss Annie Lou Roberts,
preceded him in death September 18, 1964.
Survivors include three daughters, Mrs. Joel H.
Miller of Elberton, Mrs. T.S. Short of Shellman, and
Mrs. Eloise T. Jones of Tallahassee, Fla.; two sons,
T. Marvin Tarpley of Albany and Bill Tarpley of
Leesburg; nine grandchildren and five great-
grandchildren.
Funeral services were conducted at 2 p.m. today at
Leesburg Methodist Church, the Rev. Charles
Webster and the Rev. Bobby Moye officiating.
Interment followed in the Leesburg Cemetery.
Pallbearers were Robert B. Lee, Jack Hardin,
Malcolm Cannon, Dan Bass, James McBride and
Raymond Cannon; honorary escort, trustees and
stewards of Leesburg Methodist Church.
James Davis McBride
1952-1954
Bom January 28, 1895 - Died January 4, 1962.
Sheriff McBride was known as Captain Mac. He
resigned as Sheriff on October 20, 1954 due to ill
health. After his health improved, he was appointed
as the first warden of the new Lee State Prison.
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Sheriffs of Lee County since 1896
Obituary
The Albany Herald
J. D. McBride, 66, a life-long resident of Leesburg,
died Thursday afternoon in Pheobe Putney Hospital
after an illness.
Mr. McBride was bom on January 28, 1895 in
Leesburg, the son of the late Kate Mycou and James
Monroe McBride.
Mr. McBride had devoted most of his life to law
enforcement work having served as County Warden
for 8 years, deputy Sheriff for 23 years and Sheriff
for 2 years. At the time of his death, he was warden
of Lee Prison, a position he had held for the last eight
years.
He was a veteran of World War I and a member of
American Legion Post 182, Leesburg.
Mr. McBride is survived by his wife, the former Miss
Marie Daffin of Marianna, Fla.; two daughters, Mrs.
George Thrift of Leesburg and Mrs. Thomas Burnett
of Macon; one son, James M. McBride of Leesburg;
two sisters, Mrs. B.L. Snider of Leesburg and Mrs.
J.R. Green of Memphis, Tenn.; eight grandchildren
and two great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held Saturday at 11 a.m. in
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Sheriffs of Lee County since 1896
the Leesburg Methodist Church, with the Rev. Alton
C. Prickette and the Rev. R.H. Forester officiation.
Interment will follow in the Leesburg Cemetery.
Robert Alexander Forrester
1954-1976
Bom June 17,1910 - Died January 6,1986.
Known by his friends as Mr. Dick, Sheriff
Forrester was appointed to the office after the
resignation of Sheriff McBride. S.E. Sanford, Clerk
of the Lee County Superior Court appointed Sheriff
Forrester who had served for many years as a deputy
for Sheriff Tarpley and Sheriff McBride. A special
election was held on November 10,1954 and Sheriff
Forrester was elected to the office and served for 22
years.
Obituary
The Albany Herald
The grave side funeral service of R.A. Dick
Forester, 75, of Leesburg, who died Monday, was to
be conducted today at 2 p.m. in the Leesburg
Cemetery.
A lifelong resident of Leesburg, Mr. Forester served
as deputy Sheriff of Lee County for six years and
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Sheriffs of Lee County since 1896
Sheriff for 22 years, retiring on January 1,1977 . He
was an Army veteran of World War II and a member
of American Legion Post 182 at Leesburg.
Survivors include his wife, Mrs. Beulah D. Forester
of Leesburg; a son, R.A. Forester, Jr. of Leesburg; a
daughter, Mrs. Diane Richardson Leonard of
Phoenix, Ariz., and a nephew, Goode B. Buddy
Yeoman Jr. of Albany.
Ernest Jerome Bowyer
1976-1988
Bom June 7,1926 - Died October 25, 1994.
Sheriff Bowyer, known by his friends as E.J.,
served as a deputy for Sheriff Forrester.
Obituary
The Albany Herald
E.J. Bowyer, 68, of Leesburg, died Tuesday at
Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital.
The funeral will be at 4 p.m. Thursday at First
Baptist Church in Leesburg with burial in Leesburg
Cemetery. The Revs. Bobby Moye and Bobby
Harrell will officiate.
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Sheriffs of Lee County since 1896
A native of Newton, Mr. Bowyer had lived in
Leesburg for 36 years. He served in Lee County law
enforcement for 26 years, first as Leesburgs Chief of
Police, then deputy Sheriff and later as Lee County
Sheriff for 12 years. He was a member of First
Baptist Church of Leesburg, the Georgia Sheriffs
Association, Peace Officers Association of Georgia
and the Georgia Sheriffs Boys Ranch.
Mr. Bowyer was an Army veteran of World War II
and a Mason, and he helped start the Youth Baseball
League in Lee County and the Lee County EMS.
Survivors include his wife, Sara Bowyer of Leesburg;
three sons, Bobby Bowyer of Leesburg, Ronnie
Bowyer of Snellville and Mike Bowyer of Lilbum; a
daughter, Patricia Graham of Wauchula, Fla; 13
grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
Harold Noel Breeden
1989-Present
Bom June 28,1944
Sheriff Breeden was elected in November of 1988
and his first term of office began on January 1,1989.
He defeated Sheriff Bowyer in the general election.
Sheriff Breeden is currently in his third term of office.
Prior to being elected Sheriff, he worked for the
Si
16
Sheriffs of Lee County since 1896
Albany Police Department in Albany, Georgia. Prior
to his law enforcement experience, he was a
professional baseball player for 17 years.
17
Sheriffs of Lee County since 1896
ADDENDUM
Sheriff Age when
Sheriff
Martin 43
Smith 42
Moreland 24
Coxwell 26
Tarpley 46
McBride 57
Forrester 44
Bowyer 50
Breeden 44
Age at Home County
Death
65 Monroe
67 Terrell
27 Lee
62 Terrell
85 Miller
66 Lee
75 Lee
68 Baker
Lee
18
Sheriffs of Lee County since 1896
GRAVE MARKERS
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Sheriffs of Lee County since 1896
20
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Sheriffs of Lee County since 1896
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Sheriffs of Lee County since 1896
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Sheriffs of Lee County since 1896
23
Sheriffs of Lee County since 1896
24
Sheriffs of Lee County since 1896
25
Sheriffs of Lee County since 1896
ERNEST JEROME BOWYER
T..J.
JUNF 7 J926
OCT 25 1994

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Sheriffs of Lee County since 1896
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Mr. Ben Young has been very active with the history
of Lee County for many years. Ben has made
location maps of most cemeteries in Lee County. He
is always ready to help anyone with questions
concerning the historical significance of our county.
Ben helped me find two cemetery sites and grave
markers for three of the Sheriffs shown in this
booklet. I appreciate Bens help and friendship.
Mrs. Gladys Thrift, the daughter of Sheriff McBride
has been most helpful. Her father served in law
enforcement for 32 years. First as a deputy for 22
years, Sheriff for 2 years and Warden of the Lee
State Prison for 8 years. As a child, Mrs. Thrift lived
with her family on the second floor of the old county
jail. I respect and admire her vast knowledge and
first hand experience with law enforcement in Lee
County. There is no better source of information on
the subject of local politics than Mrs. Gladys Thrift.
She has been kind to talk with me on many occasions
about the history of Lee County. Mrs. Thrift is truly
a Southern Lady and Im very proud to call her a
friend.
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