Osborne Bell

Osborne Bell was a man who broke barriers and built bridges in his community. Born and raised in Holly Springs, Mississippi, he was a graduate of the Mississippi Industrial College, a U.S. Army veteran, and a former teacher. Remembered for his friendliness and his commitment to treating everyone with fairness, Bell embarked on a trailblazing career in public service. In 1967, he was elected Marshall County Coroner, becoming the first Black man to hold the position in the state. After three successful terms, community members urged him to run for sheriff. In 1979, he made history again when he was elected as the first African American Sheriff of Marshall County, a role he served with distinction for six years. A married father of four, the 50-year-old Black man was known for his efforts to bridge the racial divide and was a beloved leader in his community.

His dedicated career was violently cut short on the morning of May 7, 1986. That day, Sheriff Bell’s cousin, Deputy Walter Bell, was on patrol when he spotted a suspicious car parked off a rural stretch of Highway 309, near Jamison Road. Inside were Bart Helgrin Mease, 22, of Georgia, and Paula Lush, 32, of Senatobia, Mississippi. The couple had pulled over to use drugs during a road trip. After the deputy noticed drug paraphernalia on the car's roof, he called for backup. Sheriff Bell responded to the scene to assist.

As the officers worked to arrest the pair, the situation quickly escalated. Sheriff Bell placed Lush in the front of his patrol car. When he and Deputy Bell turned their attention to Mease, a struggle broke out. For a split second, the officers were distracted, allowing Mease to get behind Sheriff Bell and take him hostage. Mease produced a concealed .22 caliber derringer and pointed it at the back of the sheriff's head. As Mease tried to escape, the gun went off, and a single bullet struck Sheriff Bell. Some reports state he was shot in the face. Deputy Bell returned fire, wounding Mease, who was not seriously injured. Sheriff Bell was airlifted to a hospital in Memphis, Tennessee, but tragically died from his injuries en route.

The investigation into the murder of the respected sheriff was led by the Mississippi Highway Patrol. Investigators found methamphetamine and syringes in the suspects' vehicle. The killing sent shockwaves through Marshall County, leaving those who looked up to him devastated. The legal proceedings that followed were long and complex. Bart Mease was charged with capital murder. He was convicted and sentenced to death. However, his conviction was later overturned by the Mississippi Supreme Court on the grounds that the jury had not been given the option to consider a lesser charge of manslaughter.

In a subsequent retrial, Mease was again found guilty of murder, but this time he was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole. His accomplice, Paula Lush, made a plea deal to testify against him and was later set free. Over the decades since the murder, Mease has repeatedly been denied parole. The Bell family has attended hearings to advocate against his release. His fifth denial came in March 2011, with his next eligibility for parole consideration set for January 2015.

The community Sheriff Bell served has never forgotten his sacrifice. He is honored with a historical marker in Holly Springs, and a portion of Highway 309, near where he was killed, was renamed the Osborne Bell Memorial Highway in his memory. His daughter, Toni Bell, remembered him as "the best dad I could, or anyone, could possibly have." His sister, Monet Autry, recalled him as the oldest of nine siblings and a man who ran for sheriff only because his community believed in him. As of the latest reports from April 2011, Bart Mease remained incarcerated for the murder of Sheriff Osborne Bell.