Remembering Slain Alabama Sheriff ‘Big John’ Williams

An Alabama sheriff was laid to rest on Monday. Lowndes County Sheriff “Big John” Williams was allegedly killed by the son of a deputy from a neighboring county more than a week ago. Williams is the fifth law enforcement officer killed by gunfire in the state this year.

This morning, I paid my respects to Lowndes Co. Sheriff Big John Williams. His loss was palpable in the room and the love from the community was overflowing. He will be greatly missed by us all. (1/2) pic.twitter.com/SAH9gMP05Q

— Governor Kay Ivey (@GovernorKayIvey) December 2, 2019

He stood six-foot-four, more than 260 pounds with a deep voice. Residents in Alabama say Sheriff Big John Williams lived up to his name not just in stature but with his heart. He spent four decades working in law enforcement, and the last nine years as Sheriff of Lowndes County. Williams, a black man, was fatally shot more than a week ago at a gas station in Hayneville outside of Montgomery. He was responding to a complaint about people blocking gas pumps with their cars and playing loud music. It was a call, many officers say wasn’t unusual. The suspect, 18-year-old William Chase Johnson, is charged with murder and is being held without bond. But few details surrounding the shooting have been released. 

Sunday morning, dozens of people marched on a main city street to demand justice for the slain 62-year-old sheriff. Hayneville Police Chief Kelvin Mitchell, Williams’ close friend, was one of the leaders of the march.

“I ain’t thinking about no conflict, this is about justice,” he says.

Mitchell says the investigation is being handled by the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency and the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office. 

“You got a young white kid that takes the life of the highest law enforcement official in the county and there’s no outcry,” he says. “Nobody’s saying anything.”

Mitchell says state officials are trying to change the narrative, saying the sheriff wasn’t on duty at the time and didn’t follow proper procedure, including they say, failing to identify himself as law enforcement.  Williams was on the scene responding to a call from someone at the gas station. 

“They’re saying he wasn’t on duty. The sheriff’s on duty 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 a year,” Mitchell says. 

Many Lowndes County residents can attest to Mitchell’s statement. Many had his cell phone number. Walter Hill, a former county official, spoke to a crowd of dozens at the march about the sheriff’s accessibility in the community. 

“Mothers could pick up the phone when their child was being disorderly. Teachers and principals, you name it. All they had to say, ‘Let me call Big John’,”Hill says.

Stewart Harrell is one of the owners of the gas station where Williams was killed. He says the sheriff would stop by as often as three times a day just to check in.

“Every morning he would ride by and toot his horn. And you can ask all the businesses, he would wait until you waved at him and then he’d leave,” he says. “Every morning about 5 o’clock.” 

Harrell says Williams was a symbol of what a leader in law enforcement should be. He says Williams will be missed by all. 

“I bet you if you go down to the jail, all the inmates are gonna miss him. He meant that much to everybody,” he says.

Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey has ordered flags to be flown at half-staff Monday in memory of Sheriff Big John Williams.