Frank Davis, Mississippi’s first Black sheriff in modern era, dies at 79

Frank Davis, 79, Mississippi’s first Black sheriff in the modern era, has died, the Claiborne County Sheriff’s Office said Monday.

The office said Davis made history when he was elected sheriff of Claiborne County in 1979 and was the first Black sheriff elected in the state post-Reconstruction.

Davis led the southwest Mississippi county’s sheriff’s office from 1979 to 2012 and returned to the post in 2016 before retiring, the office said.

The office said Davis served as president of the Mississippi Sheriff’s Association from 2000 to 2001, becoming the first African American to hold that position. He was also a founding member of the Mississippi chapter of the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives and served as its president in 1990, the office said.

In a statement, the Claiborne County Sheriff’s Office said, “These were not simply titles or accolades. They represented barriers broken, doors opened, and a lifetime committed to public service.” Claiborne County Sheriff Edward Goods Sr. said, “On behalf of myself, my family, and the entire Claiborne County Sheriff’s Department, I extend my deepest condolences to the Davis family. We honor his many years of service, his historic accomplishments, and the contributions he made to Claiborne County and the State of Mississippi. Rest in peace, Sheriff Frank Davis. Your service made history, your accomplishments opened doors, and your legacy will forever be a part of Claiborne County.”

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