Miss. Deputy Dies in Collision with Horses on Way Home after Shift

When Jackson County Sheriff’s Deputy Joshua Brashears died in a crash on his way home from his night shift, his son said he died in uniform just like he thought he would.

“I always knew he’d die in uniform,” his son, Josiah Brashears, said at his father’s funeral service Wednesday at Heritage Funeral Home in Jackson County. “I asked him to give me at least until he was 60.”

But Deputy Brashears was 45 when he was killed before dawn on Oct. 17 after his vehicle struck three horses in the middle of Highway 15, just north of Harrison County. He was driving home near McHenry when the accident happened, killing the deputy and the horses struck in the crash. The Highway Patrol said the horses caused the accident.

Though Brashears’ life was cut short, his son said the lessons his father taught will last a lifetime.

“He taught me that family comes first, to protect the innocent and those who can’t protect themselves, (and) to walk humbly and live simply under God,” Josiah said.

A large contingent of Jackson County sheriff’s deputies turned out for the funeral, as did other officers from other Coast agencies and some from other parts of the country, including two who had made the drive over from Greenville, South Carolina, where Brashears had previously worked.

Brashears had worked with the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department for more than two years, but his law enforcement career spanned over two decades, including long tenures with agencies in South Carolina and Colorado.

Those who worked alongside him said he was known for his dedication, humor and kindness.

“He was a very, very good deputy to work with on calls,” said Sgt. Lionel Bourgeois of the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department. “He was very passionate about what he was doing and his family. He would talk about his kids quite often, and it was a pleasure working with him on a regular basis.”

In the aftermath of the deputy’s death, Bourgeois said the department is focused on honoring his memory.

“We’re going to do our best to honor Josh by continuing to work and keep the community safe,” he said. “I know that’s what he would want, and that’s our goal.”

Other officers shared memories of the light Brashears brought to the job — his humor, his easy-going nature and his quiet professionalism.

Lt. Shane Bozeman said he’ll miss the deputy who never had a cross word for anyone. “He was calm, steady, and just a good man to be around,” Bozeman said.

Off duty, the two shared a simple friendship built around their mutual love of cigars.

“I smoke cigars on my off time,” Bozeman said. “Every once in a while, he’d send me a picture of himself sitting by a fire, smoking a cigar, and we’d compare notes on which ones we liked best.”

Jackson County Sheriff John Ledbetter said the loss has left an unexpected void at the department.

“I was proud to have him work for the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office for the past two years,” he said. “He was a great asset to our department and to the community, and we are heartbroken over this tragedy.”

Brashears’ sister, Allie Brashears, said her brother cared little for material things and saw the best in people.

“He thought through the heart of things — into the heart of people,” she said. “He saw past the props we use to make ourselves seem important, the judgments we use to close our hearts, the barriers we erect to keep ourselves safe.”

She said he believed “the truest life is one lived fully in the sun — his body exposed to the elements, his mind unflinching from terrible truths, and his heart open to both sinners and saints.”

For his family, the loss is immeasurable — “like losing the warm hand you hold for comfort, the laughter and smiles that bring you joy,” they said — but so is the love and legacy he leaves behind.

Brashears was laid to rest at Shiloh Cemetery in Vancleave, marked by a 21-gun salute and the last call for him over the law enforcement radio.

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