Selman remembered as dedicated public servant


Thursday, April 14, 2011
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Selman remembered as dedicated public servant

By SUE WATSON
Staff Writer

Patricia Selman

Holly Springs Assistant Police Chief Patricia Selman will be laid to rest Saturday after a long battle with cancer.

She is remembered for her leadership and dedication to law enforcement, to the community’s children and as a mother.

Selman, who died Tuesday at the age of 55, began a career in law enforcement May 7, 1988, with the Marshall County Sheriff’s Department, serving under sheriffs Jimmye Dale Green and Ernest Cunningham. She became a police officer at the city of Holly Springs on Feb. 20, 1996, where she moved to captain and to assistant chief under the administration of chief Robert Burby on Oct. 7, 2003. She served as interim police chief twice for the city, including from June 15, 2004 until Sept. 5, 2006.

Selman, loved and adored by her two daughters, son, and two grandchildren, served 23 years in law enforcement. She also drove a city school bus for several years, her children said.

“She was a wonderful mother to us and to the community, too,” said her daughters Patrice Woods and April Selman. “She was a beautiful mother. She was good to us and good to other folks’ children. She was called Grandma by a lot of children.”

Chief Robert Pearson emphasized Selman’s work ethic, saying she was professional in all her activities, a dedicated public servant; and as a leader, she insisted officers under her leadership were professionals, too.

Sheriff Kenny Dickerson agreed.

“She was a real close friend of mine and we worked a lot of cases together,” Dickerson said. “She was knowledgeable and cooperative when I was a highway patrol officer and as sheriff. She was a good police officer and supervisor. We lost a good public servant. She was always most helpful and her knowledge and presence is really going to be missed in law enforcement and in the community.”

Holly Springs Mayor Andre’ DeBerry said Selman was an outstanding person who will be missed greatly by the community.

“She had the ability to serve and concern for the community,” he said. “Her service to the city was commendable. She was a dedicated worker and she served the citizens of the city well. Our prayers are with her family.”

Selman was a member of Christ Temple Church of God In Christ, where she served as usher, a member of the choir, as an assistant Sunday School teacher and as president of the youth ushers.

For more information, see her obituary on page 2.

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