Construction began Thursday Oct. 30, 2003 on a permanent memorial in the courtyard in Chatham to honor the Pittsylvania County Sheriff’s Office personnel who lost their lives in the line of duty. The memorial will be a lasting tribute to Deputy Sheriff George Williams, Constable James Bryant, Constable David J. Payne, Constable Will Coward, Deputy Sheriff J. Holland Thomas Sr., and Deputy Sheriff Frankie L. Betterton. For more information about each Officer you can visit the Officer Down Memorial Page for Pittsylvania County. The memorial will provide a place of reflection and remembrance for all who visit and will ensure that these brave officers are never forgotten.
The memorial,
dedicated on May 10, 2004 during National Police Week has six black granite monuments, each dedicated to a fallen
officer with their names and faces inscribed. It sits on a 21 by
21 foot base that represents the 21-gun salute, the highest honor rendered.
