James Lewis Walters

Sheriff James Lewis Walters, age 66, of Cleveland, Texas, passed away Wednesday, January 09, 2013 at his home in Cleveland, Texas. Born on July 17, 1946 in Houston, Texas to Lonnie and Henrietta (Peggy) Walters of Shepherd, Texas. James graduated from Shepherd High School in 1964 and graduated from Texas Baptist Institute and Seminary in Henderson, Texas in 1975. James was proudly sworn in as San Jacinto County Sheriff on January 01, 2013 for his second four year term in office. Prior to his position as San Jacinto County Sheriff, James served with the Harris County Sheriff’s Department for 24 years. Previous to his Law Enforcement career he was a Pastor for 15 years. During his first three years in office as Sheriff, they raised over $560,000 in revenue from housing inmates at the jail from other counties. Additionally from a proactive approach to the jail administration he saved the county nearly $100,000 in medical costs. Both these efforts resulted in tax savings for residents in San Jacinto County. He was able to add more patrolmen while remaining within the annual budgets. He made a commitment to go after drugs in this county and the Sheriff’s Department has made more than 200 drug arrests. From these arrests have come seizures of drug monies which are shared with the District Attorney’s office. The Sheriff’s Department used their portion to purchase an inmate transportation van, animal control stock trailer, a patrol car, animal control truck, and half the salary of an investigative detective, all providing tax free value for SJC taxpayers. Overall 9 new patrol cars have been added which greatly increases the safety of the individual Sheriffs who use these vehicles to respond to emergencies and creating significant savings on maintenance costs. James is preceded in death by his granddaughter Morgan Derryberry. He is survived by his parents Lonnie and Henrietta Walters of Shepherd, Texas; sisters Kay, Janice and Sonya; his wife of 18 years, Kathleen Walters; their sons Gary Walters and wife Tara of Cleveland, Texas; Royce Walters and wife Valerie of Houston, Texas and Shawn Christie of Seattle, Washington and their daughter Brandy Knight of San Diego, California; ten grandchildren, one great-grandson, numerous nieces, nephews. Friends will be received at 5:00-9:00 p.m., on Thursday, January 10, 2013 at Pace-Stancil Funeral Home, Cleveland, Texas. Funeral services will be held at 1:00 p.m., on Friday January 11, 2013 at First Baptist Church, located in Shepherd, Texas. Food will be received and a meal will be provided for the family and friends at 11:00 a.m. prior to the service in the Fellowship Hall at Good Shepherd Baptist Church. Officiating will be Pastor Larry Albright. His final resting place will be at Peebles Cemetery in Goodrich, Texas.