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ZEBULON - On Saturday, December 3, 2022 at 5:00 p.m. in the Pike County Board of Education Meeting Room within the Pike County Memorial Annex on U.S. Route 19, Zebulon, the Pike County American Legion Post 197 hosted the 2022 Pike County Memorial Annex Induction Ceremony. The 2022 inductees are Law Enforcement Officer Chase Maddox; and Army Air Corps Second Lieutenant James E. “Buck” Corley, Army Private Eddie R. Parks, and Army Private Thomas J. Sandefur all from WWII.

Highlights of the Program included the Posting of the Colors by the Muli-organizational Color Guard consisting of Sergeant Eddie Huffman and Deputy Deangelo Smith from the Pike County Sheriff’s Office and Stephen Golias, Stefan Huckaby, and Ron Griffin from Post 197; the singing of the National Anthem by Carol Griffin; POW/MIA tribute by Post 197 Commander Paul Chatterton; brief history of the Memorial Annex by Historian Bryan Richardson; and biography readings of the four inductees and the unveiling of each inductee’s shadow box by Lieutenant Matthew Long from the Locust Grove Police Department and Legionnaires Stefan Huckaby, Cdr Paul Chatterton, and Ben Maxedon.

The guest speaker was Alex Maddox, widow of Patrolman Maddox who was killed in the line of duty. She addressed the approximate 50 attendees on, “What it is like to be an Officer Down Widow. Master of Ceremonies, Bryan Richardson addressed the attendees on the magnitude of WWII as highlighted by the significant effects on the Army Air Corps. A Memorial Wreath was posted at the four shadow boxes by Alex and Bodie Maddox, Sheriff Jimmy Thomas, and Commander Paul Chatterton assisted by the Multi-organizational Honor Guard in honor of the four inductees which also included the playing of “Amazing Grace” and the playing of “Taps” by Will Busby.

Chase L. Maddox

Chase Lee Maddox was born on 16 December 1991 in McDonough, Georgia to Kelly Wilkes and Robert Kenneth Maddox. Chase was the oldest of two children. As an adolescent, he loved music, working on his 1978 Ford F150 truck, and participating in the High School’s Future Farmers of America program. He loved fishing and hunting in Pike County. On 28 May 2010, Chase graduated from Ola High School in McDonough, Henry County, Georgia. During high school, Chase met Brandy Alexandra Walker, “Alex”, and on 15 June 2010, Bradin Ace was born. Chase then attended the North Georgia University in Dahlonega to get a nursing degree. While at the University, he joined the Army Reserve Officer Training Corps program. After a year, he left the University, and joined the United States Army Reserves. He completed his Army basic training at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. He continued his service for six years in the Army Reserve. He conducted military training at Aniston in Alabama and Dobbins Reserve Base in Marietta, Georgia.

While in the US Army Reserves, on 19 April 2013, Chase graduated from the Basic Mandate Law Enforcement program at the Georgia Public Safety Training Center in Forsyth, Georgia. He was then hired by the Locust Grove Police Department as a Patrolman. Patrolman Maddox’s badge number was 216.

On 12 November 2016 Chase and Alex married. In September of 2017, the family moved to Pike County. Also in 2017, Chase completed the Georgia Public Safety Training Center Field Officer’s Training Course, and was certified as a Field Officer trainer. With this additional duty, he was able to fully train one new officer to the Locus Grove Department.

As a patrolman, Chase’s duties included providing law enforcement within the City of Locus Grove and Interstate 75, back-up to the Henry County Sheriff’s Office, and responding to traffic, medical, and fire incidents in and around the city. In the performance of his duty, Chase was known to keep in his patrol vehicle, stuffed animals to give to children needing comfort. He also provided medical assistance at scenes until the emergency medical services arrive. Patrolman Maddox became an expert in the use of the Stop Stick use to stop or slow down a pursed vehicle in which he proved his expertise in a high-speed department pursuit.

On 9 February 2018, two Henry County Sheriff Office deputies, Michael Corley and Ralph Callaway were serving a warrant for the arrest at the home of 39-year-old male residing on St. Francis Court in the City of Locust Grove, Georgia. The arrest warrant was for failing to appear in court on a traffic violation. The wanted subject refused to cooperate, and the deputies requested assistance from the Locust Grove Police Department.

Patrolman Maddox was dispatched and several minutes later arrived at the scene. After approximately ten minutes of verbal persuasion, the officers attempted to take physical custody of individual. The person ran to the stairs within the house with Chase and the deputies in pursuit. The individual produced a weapon and at 11:13 a.m. fired on the three officers in pursuit, wounding both Corley and Callaway. Officer Maddox was hit three times, one being in the head. Deputy Callaway was able to return fire and hit the subject who died from his wounds.

Officer Maddox was evacuated by ambulance to the Atlanta Medical Center were at 12:47 p.m., his end of watch occurred as he succumbed to his wound to the head. Chase Maddox was 26 years old. He was the first Georgia peace officer killed in the line of duty by a gun for the year 2018. Four days later, on 13 February 2018, his second son Bodie Allen was born.

Officer Chase Maddox was killed in the line of duty. He was cremated and his ashes remain with the family. He is memorialized on the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, DC; on the Georgia Law Enforcement Wall of Honor at the Georgia Public Safety Memorial in Forsyth, Georgia; at the Chase Maddox Park in Locust Grove, Georgia; in the “Chase it Up” Scholarship for Fallen Officer Families at the Mandate School in Forsyth and now under the Band of Blue Non-Profit Organization; and in the Pike County Memorial Annex in Zebulon, Georgia.

Closing

The Memorial Annex Class of 2022 joined 33 other previous inductees for a total of 37 which include 3 law enforcement and 34 military. The Pike County Board of Education dedicated a portion of its school facilities to be further used as an exclusive memorial for all those in Pike County who have given the ultimate sacrifice while serving the community. This includes first responders such as emergency medical service members and paramedics, Sheriff’s Office and City Police Departments, County Fire Department and City Volunteer Fire Departments, as well as military service members.

As stated by Post 197 Historian Bryan Richardson, “Those who could not attend the event can visit the Memorial Annex and see all the shadow boxes as you get to know the inductees as well as learn about some history of Pike County and our US wars and conflicts. The Memorial Annex is truly a great facility, a Pike County treasure, and it is open to the public. And it’s free! It is open when the school is open. Contact Bryan Richardson if you interested in a special group guided tour.”