Henderson County deputies remember former Sheriff killed in fatal car accident
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HENDERSON COUNTY, Tenn. — A former Lexington police chief and Henderson County Sheriff dies in a single-vehicle accident Wednesday night. Charles Lee Woods is fondly remembered by many, especially those in law enforcement. Both, current Sheriff Brian Duke and Captain Tracey Grisham credit Woods with starting their law enforcement careers. “He saw something worth gambling on and he opened that opportunity for me and now 23 years later I have the honor of serving where he was,” Sheriff Duke said. Initially hired as a jailer, Duke said Woods was a mentor. “He laid a good foundation for me to build on,” Duke said. Woods was on the forefront of community policing, even going as far as having deputies offer rides to some of the community members during an ice storm in the early 90’s. Woods served as sheriff of Henderson County from 1990-1998. In 1996, he hired Captain Grisham as a deputy. “He was a cut-up and liked to have fun,” Grisham said. “Now if you were to mess up, you knew it but he was the kind that you couldn’t stay mad at.” According to a report from the THP, Woods was driving on Christian Chapel Road in Darden when he veered off the road. Residents said the truck took out several mail boxes before narrowly missing a home and striking a tree in the backyard. There appeared to be no signs the 69-year-old ever tried to slow the vehicle. Captain Grisham said he was stunned by the news of the fatality. “It was a shock. It hurt. I had trouble going back to sleep for a while.” Staff said Woods enjoyed horses and could be a little mischievous. “He was always kind-hearted and kind of a little bit of a prankster,” Henderson County 911 Director Pam Tolley said. Captain Grisham said one of his fondest memories of Woods includes having an annual cook-out at the sheriff’s department. “He furnished everything.” Sheriff Duke said Woods was still a part of the law enforcement community. “Even though he had technically been out of law enforcement a long time he was still one of us.” Captain Grisham agrees, noting only two weeks ago he ran into Sheriff Woods in the grocery store and still referred to him as sheriff. “There’s always going to be respect in my heart for Sheriff Charles Lee Woods,” Grisham said. The THP said no charges will be filed related to the accident. The fatality report does show Woods was not wearing a seat belt; however, Troopers do not believe Woods was impaired in any way.
