Mississippi

Service held for fallen deputy: Who was Hinds County Deputy Martin Shields Jr. of Mississippi?

Published

1 year ago

March 2, 2025

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Service held for fallen deputy: Who was Hinds County Deputy Martin Shields Jr. of Mississippi?

Hinds County Deputy Martin Luther Shields Jr., 37, was fatally shot on Feb. 23 while responding to a domestic dispute call.
Hundreds of people, including Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves, attended Shields’ funeral to pay their respects.
Shields was remembered as a dedicated officer and a loving husband and father.
Colleagues from various law enforcement agencies shared stories about Shields’ character and commitment to service.

Tears and laughter flowed freely Sunday at the Jackson Revival Center as family, friends and law enforcement officials from around the state gathered to say their goodbyes to fallen Hinds County Deputy Martin Luther Shields Jr., who was killed Feb. 23.

The celebration of life service for the 37-year-old deputy was held Sunday afternoon, a week after Shields was fatally shot on the evening of Feb. 23 while responding to a domestic dispute call at a home on Midway Road in Terry.

Born on July 14, 1987, Shields dedicated his life to serving his community and protecting his fellow citizens. This was evident in the hundreds of people who showed up to pay their respects, including Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves.

“We gather here today not just to mourn the loss of a hero who gave his life in service to his community, but we also come here today to celebrate a life well-lived. (Shields) represents the very best of Mississippi,” Reeves said. “Shields will never be forgotten.”

The family and friends of Shields were led in by a procession of law enforcement officials who entered the sanctuary in a double-file line. They approached the alter where Shields lay in a casket, one side open to reveal his serene face, the other side closed and draped with an American flag, symbolizing his service and sacrifice.

Surrounding his casket were beautiful flowers, a representation of the love and admiration that surrounded Shields inside the sanctuary. Loved ones took their time saying their goodbyes before the casket was closed completely, a moment that was met with tears and sorrow.

Martin was educated in the Jackson Public School District, graduating from Lanier High School in 2006. He attended Hinds Community College before pursuing his true passion in law enforcement at the Mississippi Law Enforcement Officers Training Academy, graduating in 2016. Martin had an extensive career in law enforcement working at Jackson State University, Jackson Police Department, Ridgeland Police Department and the Hinds County Sheriff’s Office, where Shields served until his death.

Martin leaves behind his wife, Kristian, and his daughter, Aubrey. Martin also survived his father, Martin Shields Sr., and his mother, Marcie Levy.

Hinds County Sheriff Tyree Jones said Shields was not only a member of the law enforcement family but a beacon of commitment, a protector and a friend to the communities in which he served.

“Job well done thy faithful servant,” Jones said, directing his comments to the fallen officer. “You will forever be a part of us. May your legacy live on in the many lives that you’ve touched.”

What did people say about Martin Shields Jr.?

Jones was one of several speakers at the service who spoke highly of Shields, not only as a dedicated deputy and a loyal classmate but, most importantly, as a person. Their words painted a picture of a man who was deeply loved and respected by all who knew him.

Jackson Police Chief Joseph Wade said that over the three years employed with the JPD, Shields did not just show up to work but to work hard, serving citizens of Jackson located in Precinct 1 of South Jackson. Wade noted Shields received the “I am COJ (City of Jackson) Award” for his heroic actions in administering NARCAN to an individual, saving their life.

Wade said when Shields accepted the award, Shields stated, “I just get out here to do my job. I really don’t like looking forward to any awards, just making people smile is the best thing that I can do.”

Wade presented a plaque to the family to commemorate Shields’ service to the city of Jackson. Wade also presented to the family a “Shadow Box” containing Shields’ badge and ID from his tenure with Jackson police.

“God bless you, and we will continue to keep you uplifted in our prayers,” Wade said to the family.

Ridgeland Police Corp. Phillip Kendrick fondly recalled working night shift rotations with Shields, a time when the duo was affectionately nicknamed “Bad Boys” by the people they encountered.

“You couldn’t see him without me and vice versa,” Kendrick said.

Hinds County Sgt. Ronnie Hubbard, who supervised Shields for eight months, described him as a highly dependable individual who exemplified the best qualities of wearing a badge. Hubbard said Shields embodied courage, passion and unwavering commitment to being a public servant.

“Your sacrifices will never be forgotten. Rest in peace knowing that your service made a difference,” Hubbard said.

Anthony Brown, Jr. and Robert Jones III recognized as friends of Shields said, “to know Martin is to love him unconditionally.”

Several agencies were in attendance, including the Hattiesburg Police Department, Madison Police Department and Leake County Sheriff’s Office. Pastor Jennifer Biard delivered the eulogy.

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Mississippi

Stamps Super Burgers named best burger in Mississippi

Published

5 hours ago

April 6, 2026

Press Room

Stamps Super Burgers named best burger in Mississippi

A Jackson, Mississippi, icon has been named the best burger in Mississippi.

Foodie offers tips for “living a delicious life” from where you go out to eat to what you cook at home. It’s ranked the best hamburger restaurant in every state.

“Of course, the bigger burger chain names have become famous worldwide, but U.S. soil is also home to a dazzling variety of burger businesses, from those selling everything from high-end gastroburgers and gluten- or meat-free versions, to hole-in-the-wall places that have been slinging sliders for generations,” Scheenagh Harrington wrote for Foodie.

The site’s pick for the best in the Magnolia State is not surprising.

“Many businesses claim their product is the best in town, but Jackson-based Stamps Super Burgers really does deliver,” Harrington wrote.

They warned to plan your trip. Afternoons can get very busy.

Why do people love Stamps burgers?

Stamps Super Burgers, 1801 Dalton St., Jackson, was founded in 1986. Since then, three generations of the Stamps family have served juicy burgers and fresh-cut fries to the community.

Today, it’s co-owned by Phil Stamps Jr. In a previous interview with the Clarion Ledger, he said it “originally started with my grandmother and grandfather in 1970 when they purchased it from Canterbury Grocery, and the entire family operated that business as a grocery and meat market for a while before transitioning over to burgers in 1986.”

The kitchen is open, in the center of the restaurant. You can watch employees cut potatoes for fries or man the grill.

A signature Stamps hamburger comes with an 11-ounce beef patty and mayonnaise, ketchup, mustard, lettuce, tomato, pickle and onions. The menu also has wings and different burger options, like turkey or portobello.

The Washington Addition restaurant regularly tops “best of” rankings for the state. In 2024, it was on the USA TODAY Restaurants of the Year list.

Where are the best burgers in Jackson, MS?

Yelp lists the Top 10 burger joints in Jackson, based on user reviews.

Stamps Super Burgers
Foundation Burger
Fat Albert’s
Cs’s
Rooster’s Restaurant
Rowan’s
Bulldog Burger
The Pig & Pint
Brent’s Drugs
Not Just a Burger

Contributing: Kiara Fleming

Bonnie Bolden is the Deep South Connect reporter for Mississippi with USA TODAY NETWORK. Email her at bbolden@gannett.com.

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Mississippi

An 1850s Parsonage in Natchez, Mississippi, Is Selling for the First Time in Over a Century

Published

17 hours ago

April 5, 2026

Press Room

An 1850s Parsonage in Natchez, Mississippi, Is Selling for the First Time in Over a Century

A 174-year-old brick parsonage house on a bluff above the Mississippi River is now for sale in Natchez, Mississippi, asking $1.985 million.

The home, completed in 1852, was built by architect James Hardie as a residence for Methodist ministers, according to historical records. The land was donated by Peter Little, a wealthy cotton broker and slave owner who built the city’s historic Rosalie mansion.

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The house was initially built as a one-story residence with an “English” basement and a carriage house; a two-story annex was added later, according to the listing with Douglas Adams of Crescent Sotheby’s International Realty, informed by the Historic Natchez Foundation.

“The location is what is superb because it is one of the highest points in Natchez overlooking the Mississippi River,” said Adams, who posted the listing Thursday.

In 1893, the Parsonage changed hands for the last time when it was purchased by James and Agnes Metcalfe, and has been in the Metcalfe family ever since.

Known as the Parsonage, the residence is considered a classic example of Greek Revival architecture from the pre-Civil War South, with a wide portico, raised porch and sash windows. It is located on South Broadway Street, in a commanding position that overlooks Bluff Park, the Mississippi and downtown Natchez. It spans 6,500 square feet with five bedrooms, two formal parlors flanking a central hall and richly detailed interiors that include original exposed-brick walls, fireplaces and stained-glass windows.

In addition to a front porch, the property includes several outdoor terraces and balconies, including a second-floor wraparound deck and a balustraded rooftop—which has the best vantage point from which to see the wide views.

The home was occupied for many years by the late Albert and Gay Metcalfe, who married at the Parsonage in 1959, and would host events for friends. “It became something of a social hub,” Adams said. “They’d host families to celebrate someone’s life; there may have been some weddings that occurred there.”

Gay Metcalfe died in 2023 and the heirs are her three children, Adams said. The family couldn’t immediately be reached for comment.

Hardie, the architect, was a Scottish immigrant who built several other notable buildings in Natchez, including most prominently St. Mary Basilica, a Gothic Revival structure on the National Register of Historic Places, and the Homewood plantation, a Greek Revival mansion.

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According to local lore, the Parsonage was commissioned by Little because his wife, Eliza’s religious devotion led her to welcome every passing minister into their home, according to “Natchez,” a 1940s history of the city. Displeased with the “long siege of such guests,” Little decided to build a separate home for his wife’s visitors.

Little’s own mansion at Rosalie still stands today near the site of the 1729 massacre of the Natchez Native Americans, from whom the city takes its name.

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