By Beverly Belcher Woody
Deputy Sheriff Walter William “W. W.” Willis
This week, we continue our remembrance of Patrick County law enforcement officers who were killed in the line of duty. Last week, we remembered Constable Robert “Bunyan” Sheppard, who was shot and killed on December 11, 1932. This week, we honor Deputy Sheriff Walter William “W. W.” Willis, a hard-working officer from The Hollow community who gave his life in service to Patrick County on December 2, 1939.
Walter William “W. W.” Willis was born on the 11th of July 1875 to Christopher Columbus Willis and Sallie Jane Gunnell. Christopher’s death record lists his parents as John Willis and Sarah Childress of The Hollow in the western part of Patrick County. Sallie Jane’s parents were James Alexander Gunnell and Sarah Jane Puckett of Ararat, Virginia.
Christopher and Sallie Jane had three sons, W. W., Charles Robert, and Martin Murray, before Sallie’s untimely passing at the age of thirty-two in 1881.
W. W. Willis married Miss Mary Evelyn Willis on the 2nd of December 1900 in Patrick County. Mary was the daughter of Joseph H. Willis and Frances Jane Martin of Carroll County, Virginia.
W. W. and Mary Evelyn would have the following children:
Luther Everett Willis, 1902–1969
Corbett McClelland Willis, 1903–1917, whose death certificate states mitral insufficiency, age 13
Joseph Columbus Willis, 1905–1992
Curtis Lawrence Willis, 1908–1933, whose death certificate states pulmonary tuberculosis, age 25
Alpha Alice Willis Hiatt, 1910–2005
Wilcher Kyle Willis, 1916–1988
Asa Hoke Willis, 1917–2002
Jessie Elizabeth Willis Wellborn, 1925–2015
The newspaper pages of The Enterprise show W. W. Willis as a steady, hard-working officer who did the difficult, often dangerous work expected of a constable in the mountain communities of Patrick County. His duties took him into rough country, along back roads, and into places where illegal stills and liquor operations were being hidden.
On October 18, 1928, The Enterprise, Stuart, Virginia, reported:
40 Gallon Still Captured
“W. W. Willis, Constable of Dan River District, while raiding in the Hollow Section October 10th, captured a 40 gallon still, cap and worm. The still was not in operation, but he destroyed 200 gallons of pummies.”
Writer’s note: A pummie, also spelled “pumice” or “pomace,” is the pulpy, mashed-up solid residue that remains after pressing fruits such as grapes, apples, or plums to extract their juice. In moonshining, this fermented fruit byproduct could be used as the base ingredient to distill fruit brandies.
A few months later, on February 7, 1929, The Enterprise carried another report:
Buried Beer Found and Destroyed
“W. W. Willis and A. E. Boyd, while raiding near The Hollow last Sunday, found and destroyed 100 gallons of beer, which had been buried to prevent freezing. The beer was in two 50-gallon kegs.”
Again, on November 19, 1929, The Enterprise reported:
“Nov. 10 Constable W. W. Willis and Mr. E. E. Boyd destroyed a lot of beer and the following night captured a still near Elk branch. Nov. 12th Constable W. W. Willis while riding along the road met a man with a still and he threw it down. Mr. Willis tracked him back and destroyed about two hundred gallons of beer.”
These short reports tell us much about the kind of work Constable Willis performed. He was persistent, watchful, and willing to go where duty called. His service was not glamorous. It was hard, dangerous, and often deadly work.
On April 24, 1930, The Enterprise included news from The Hollow:
“The Hollow, April 15, 1930—Luther Willis of Wilco, W. Va. has been visiting his parents, Mr. and Mrs. W. W. Willis.
Constable W. W. Willis destroyed 1600 gallons of beer and 40 gallons of liquor near the Tabernacle April 13.
Curtis Willis, who has been at Blue Ridge Sanatorium, is at home with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. W. W. Willis.”
In this small community note, we see both the public and private life of W. W. Willis. He was the constable who destroyed 1600 gallons of beer and 40 gallons of liquor, but he was also a husband and father, welcoming children home and carrying family burdens like so many others in Patrick County.
On October 15, 1931, The Enterprise printed his notice to the voters of Dan River District:
To The Voters of Dan River District
“This is to give notice that I am a candidate for re-election to the office of Constable. I want to assure you of my deep appreciation for any assistance that you may give me in the next general election. I have conscientiously performed all of the duties of the said office to the very best of my ability and trust that I have given general satisfaction. Thanking you for your help and trusting that I may serve you. I am,
W. W. Willis C.P.C.”
Tragically, on the day of W. W. and Mary’s 39th wedding anniversary, Deputy Willis was murdered in the line of duty.
According to the United States Officer Down Memorials, 1791–2022, Walter W. Willis, age 64, of the Patrick County Sheriff’s Office, was shot and killed on December 2, 1939, while raiding a still near Willis Gap. The record states that he was approaching the still when he was shot in the back by a suspect armed with a .22 caliber rifle. Deputy Willis crawled one-half mile to a nearby house, where he died a short time later. Before passing away, he was able to identify the suspect. The man was arrested a short time later, convicted of Deputy Willis’ murder, and sentenced to life in prison.
The December 7, 1939, the Enterprise account headlined “Sentenced, Life Term, For Murder of Deputy” and “Deputy Sheriff W. W. Willis Slain Saturday” reported that W.M.C. was tried for the murder of W. W. Willis and found guilty of murder in the first degree. He was sentenced to life in the penitentiary.
Writer’s note: Out of respect for living descendants and family members who may still feel the pain of this tragedy, I have chosen to use only the initials of those responsible for Deputy Willis’ death. This story is not meant to give attention to the men who took his life, but to honor the service, sacrifice, and memory of Deputy Sheriff Walter William “W. W.” Willis.
The article reported that W.M.C. and V.E. had been indicted jointly, but the Commonwealth elected to sever the cases and try W.M.C. first. The case was heard by Judge J. T. Clements. The prosecution established its case through the testimony of Dr. A. M. Gates, Dewey Inscore, Sheriff F. D. Mays, and Trooper L. E. Thomas. W.M.C. took the stand and acknowledged that he had shot Willis but denied that it was intentionally done. He stated that he recognized Willis and shot to frighten him. When asked why he did not administer aid, he replied that he guessed he was too excited. He also claimed that a boy later came to his home and told him Willis was seriously wounded, after which he dressed and went to Mount Airy, where he was arrested.
The Court deliberated only a few minutes after hearing the case before rendering the decision. The prosecution was represented by Will Joyce and Commonwealth’s Attorney F. P. Burton, while J. D. Hooker was appointed by the Court to represent the defense.
Another account, dated Wednesday, December 5, reported that W.M.C and V.E. were being held in jail in connection with the fatal shooting of Walter W. Willis, Deputy Sheriff, the previous Saturday morning. Mr. Willis, described as 64 and “one of the most highly respected officers in the county,” was fatally wounded when shot with a .22 rifle in the left side of the back while conducting a raid on a huge two-flue still in the western part of the county near the Willis Gap Road.
The shooting took place at about 9:00 o’clock. According to Sheriff F. D. Mays, Trooper L. E. Thomas, Commonwealth’s Attorney F. P. Burton, and Sgt. M. A. Clark, who conducted the investigation, Willis walked and crawled to Mr. Inman’s home about one-half mile away after he was shot. He lived only a short while afterward. It appears that he was able to tell whom he suspected, which led to the arrest of W.M.C. in Mount Airy a few hours later.
Sheriff Mays related that W.M.C. had confessed. According to the sheriff, W.M.C. said that when Willis appeared at the still, W.M.C. was a short distance away, while another man, V.E., was at the still and ran when the officer was sighted. W.M.C. said that when V.E. ran, Deputy Willis called on him to halt and fired once in the direction of the fleeing man. Sheriff Mays said W.M.C. declared he ran toward the still, saw the officer, fired several shots at him, and then fled.
The special grand jury indicted both W.M.C. and V.E. on the charge of murder.
The Martinsville Daily Bulletin, dated Saturday, December 2, 1939, page 1, column 3, and December 4, 1939, page 1, column 3, also reported on the tragedy. Sheriff Frank E. Mays of Patrick County was notified by telephone from Mount Airy, North Carolina, about noon that Walter Willis, Patrick County deputy sheriff, had been fatally shot near there in the line of his official duty. The shooting occurred in The Hollow community, near Willis Gap Road. The deputy lived only a few minutes after being shot while raiding a still, apparently alone.
Surviving was his father; his wife, Mrs. Mary Willis; four sons, Luther of Wilco, West Virginia; Columbus of Bassett; Kyle of Mount Airy; and Hoke Willis of The Hollow; two daughters, Mrs. Edd Hiatt of Bassett and Miss Jessie Willis of The Hollow. One brother, Bobby Willis of Powhatan, also remained. Funeral services were conducted Monday at Chestnut Grove Church by Rev. Milton Wilson and Rev. Granville Guynn, with burial in the nearby cemetery.
After his death, the Willis family published a card of thanks:
“We, the family of Walter Willis wish to express our appreciation to our friends and neighbors of their kindness and sympathy shown in our recent bereavement and for the beautiful floral offerings, and to the officers of this County and Mt. Airy, N. C. in the capture of the guilty parties.
Mrs. Walter Willis & family”
Those simple words of thanks, written in the midst of grief, speak to the strength of a family and a community bound together by sorrow, duty, and remembrance.
As we remember Deputy Sheriff Walter William “W. W.” Willis, may we also remember the family who loved him, the community that mourned him, and the hills of The Hollow where he spent his life. His story is part of Patrick County’s history, written not only in courthouse records and newspaper columns, but in sacrifice, service, and the quiet courage of a man who did his duty.
And so, nearly a century later, we speak his name with gratitude. Deputy Sheriff Walter William “W. W.” Willis served his county faithfully, and Patrick County should not forget him.
For questions, comments, or story ideas, Woody may be reached at rockcastlecreek1@gmail.com or 276-692-9626.
