Ruby Shurden walked into the Oktibbeha County Courthouse Wednesday already in uniform. The new Constable District 1 will represent the county as well as the name printed on her name tag: Jimmy Shurden.
Jimmy passed away in April following a months-long battle with liver cancer. He was in his 28th year as an Oktibbeha County constable and his death left a void in the law enforcement community.
Ruby was already part of that community as a staff support technician for the Starkville Police Department. She took on a greater responsibility Wednesday as she was sworn in to fulfill the remainder of her husband”s term
“I”m extremely honored,” she said of filling her husband”s role for the remainder of the year. “I”m doing this for Jimmy. He loved the job of constable and he was the best.”
As part of her new gig, Shurden will serve legal notices such as warrants, subpoenas and eviction notices. She”ll also continue in her role at the SPD.
“We”re glad she”s getting to fulfill the rest of Jimmy”s term and we”ll do whatever we can to assist her,” said SPD Chief David Lindley. “She easily can and will do both jobs.”
Curtis D. Randle, Constable District 2, recalled Wednesday how Jimmy Shurden mentored him when he became a constable 16 years ago, sharing practical tips like “When you go up to a door, make sure you stand to the side.” He and James Lindsey, Constable District 3, will now pass much of that wisdom on to Ruby Shurden.
“(Constables) are pretty much independent. We do our own stuff. But if we think we”re going to have a problem serving a notice, we”ll work together,” said Lindsey, who was elected four years prior.
But Lindsey said Shurden will help he and Randle out as much as they”ll help her.
“We”ve been having to do Jimmy”s job for the last few months. That”s got us in a bind. She”s going to help us out and she pretty much does (know the duties), but she”s asked me to help her,” he said.
Everyone was confident Ruby will be a natural to complete Jimmy”s term, including their daughter.
“It”s perfect. I”m very proud they gave her the opportunity to stand in for him. It”s more than an honor,” said Katrina Crowley, the Shurdens” daughter. “She”ll do fine. She”ll do great, actually.”
Shurden will work through the end of the year. Primary elections will be held in August and the general election will follow in November. Shurden is not seeking election.
Jason Browne was previously a reporter for The Dispatch.
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