MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2011 Regular Session
To: Rules
By: Senator(s) Stone, Powell, Wilemon, Browning, Albritton, Baria, Blount, Brown, Bryan, Burton, Butler (36th), Butler (38th), Carmichael, Chassaniol, Clarke, Davis, Dawkins, Dearing, Dickerson, Fillingane, Flowers, Frazier, Gollott, Gordon, Harden, Hewes, Hopson, Horhn, Hudson, Hyde-Smith, Jackson (11th), Jackson (15th), Jackson (32nd), Jones, Jordan, King, Kirby, Lee (35th), Lee (47th), McDaniel, Mettetal, Michel, Moffatt, Montgomery, Simmons, Tollison, Turner, Ward, Watson, Yancey
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION MOURNING THE LOSS AND COMMENDING THE DEDICATED LAW ENFORCEMENT AND MILITARY SERVICE OF TIPPAH COUNTY DEPUTY SHERIFF DEWAYNE CRENSHAW WHO WAS LOST IN THE LINE OF DUTY ON DECEMBER 3, 2010.
WHEREAS, Tippah County Deputy Sheriff Dewayne Crenshaw was lost in the line of duty after responding to a call of a domestic dispute on December 3, 2010, at approximately 4:00 a.m. in a rural area near Ripley; and
WHEREAS, Deputy Crenshaw was a retired U.S. Army Veteran and had served as a Patrol Deputy for the Tippah County Sheriff's Department for seven years. He had previously served as a detention officer with the agency; and
WHEREAS, funeral services for Crenshaw were held on December 8, 2010, at the Ripley Event Center, with full military honors. The procession was escorted by several law enforcement organizations. Attending the funeral were American Legion members from across the country, members of all law enforcement agencies in the county, including the Ripley Police Department, Tippah County Sheriff's Department, Blue Mountain and Walnut Police Departments, State Law Enforcement Agencies including the Mississippi Highway Patrol and Mississippi Game and Fish officers, and constables. Tippah County Emergency Service personnel were pallbearers, with one member chosen from each service. Members of all Tippah emergency services were honorary pallbearers, a Military Honor Guard fired a 21-gun salute and presented the flag to his family; and
WHEREAS, flags flew at half-staff in Tippah County in his memory. A national treasure, the U.S. Honor Flag arrived in Memphis, via American Airlines into Memphis International Airport to honor the Mid-South Sheriff's Deputy. The Honor Flag was escorted through the airport lobby by law enforcement officers. "It is a huge honor. It's honoring not only one of our law enforcement officers, but an officer who served in the U.S. military for more than twenty years," said Jason Willis, an investigator with the Tippah County Sheriff's Office; and
WHEREAS, the U.S. Honor Flag pays tribute to those who lost their lives while on duty. After the September 11, 2001, attacks, a flag was gifted by the Texas House of Representatives, which was escorted to Ground Zero, by one of the longest police motorcades in the history of the United States. The United States Honor Flag pays tribute to those who have lost their lives in the line of duty protecting our lives, our homes and our country; and
WHEREAS, survivors include Deputy Crenshaw's wife, Martha Jane Evers Crenshaw of Ripley; his mother, Alora Cowan Crenshaw Hunter of Jacksonville, Florida; two daughters, Tami Hayes (Mike Flynn) and Sandra Crenshaw, both of Jacksonville, Florida; two sons, Stephan Crenshaw (Lindsey) of Jacksonville, Florida; and Adam Crenshaw (Christalle) of Ripley; one step-daughter, Heather Pavey of Hanover, Virginia; two sisters, Lyllian Sapp (Denzel), and Christine Hunter, all of Jacksonville, Florida; and eleven grandchildren; and
WHEREAS, it is with sadness that we note the loss of a respected Mississippi law enforcement officer:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby mourn the loss and commend the dedicated law enforcement and military service of Tippah County Deputy Sheriff Dewayne Crenshaw who was lost in the line of duty on December 3, 2010, and extend our sympathy to his surviving family in honor of this sacrifice.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to the surviving family of Deputy Crenshaw, forwarded to Tippah County Sheriff Karl Gilliard and the Tippah County Board of Supervisors, and made available to the Capitol Press Corps.