05/22/2026
2026 PEACE OFFICER MEMORIAL DAY CEREMONY DEDICATED TO JEANNIE POTTER
We were proud to dedicate last week’s KCSO Peace Officer Memorial Day Ceremony to Elgin’s own, Jeannie Potter.
Plans to create the Kershaw County Law Enforcement Officers Memorial began in mid-2024. A board, consisting of non-elected/political members with a deep personal investment in honoring the law enforcement officers who made the ultimate sacrifice while serving the citizens of Kershaw County, was assembled.
The board members are:
Jeannie Potter, widow of KCSO Deputy Chris Potter III
Gayle Kosko, widow of SCHP Trooper Merl Godbold
David Thomley, retired KCSO Captain
Harold Brown, retired Elgin Police Chief
Danny Templar, Kershaw County Administrator
Daniel Roberts, Kershaw County Legislative Delegation
Benjy Jackson, KCSO Foundation Chairman
Autumn Furniss, KCSO Administrative Assistant
Together, the board designed and approved the monument. The estimated cost of the project was between $200,000 and $250,000, with a goal of completing the memorial by May 2026.
Unfortunately, donations came in slower than expected, and it became clear that completing the monument in time for the May 15, 2026 Peace Officer Memorial Day Ceremony would not be possible without reducing costs. After careful discussion, Jeannie Potter and the board made the difficult decision to delay the project rather than compromise its vision.
We have officers who gave their lives in service more than 100 years ago. Waiting another year or two was worth it if it meant honoring them the right way. The board remained committed to quality over speed.
As preparations for the 2026 ceremony continued, Jeannie’s health began to decline. She was unable to attend the final board meeting or the May 15 ceremony because of her condition. During that time, the board unanimously voted to make Jeannie Potter its President.
We all recognized that Jeannie has been the driving force behind this memorial, and we wanted her to hold the position that would ensure her vision remained at the heart of this project.
President Jeannie Potter’s wish is simple: complete this monument exactly as it was originally intended. The law enforcement officers whose names will appear on this wall gave everything they had to Kershaw County. We will do the same for them.
This monument will be completed without compromise — because President Jeannie Potter would have it no other way.
LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS TO BE HONORED ON THE MONUMENT:
Robert Albertus Latta
Camden Police Department
EOW: January 22, 1919
Jesse Fletcher Bateman
South Carolina State Constable
EOW: July 17, 1919
Theodore Turner
Kershaw County Sheriff’s Office
EOW: April 29, 1971
James Eugene Orr
Kershaw County Sheriff’s Office
EOW: July, 2, 1973
Ernest Christian Potter, III
Kershaw County Sheriff’s Office
EOW: February 21, 1974
Hardy Merl Godbold
South Carolina Highway Patrol
EOW: February 29, 1992
Ferris Edward Catoe, III
Camden Police Department
EOW: July 10, 2000
Jonathan Shea Nash
South Carolina Highway Patrol
EOW: September 19, 2009
Robert L. Evans
Kershaw County Sheriff’s Office
EOW: November 26, 2013
Click below if you would like to donate:
https://www.kershawsheriff.com/kcso-memorial
