Date of birth: 25 Oct 1934
Date of death: 19 Aug 1971

---

Burial Information

Section 04 (Click Here for Section Map)
Cemetery: Odd Fellows Cemetery
Plot: 250-02
Status: Occupied

---

Veteran Information

Branch: US ARMY - ASA 239 PH Comm Recon Co.
Rank: SGT - Sergeant

---

Notes

Birth: 25 Oct 1934 - Lexington, Holmes Co., MS
Death: 19 Aug 1971 - Jackson, Hinds Co., MS

Marriage: 07 Jun 1958 - Beulah, Holmes Co., MS

Obituary

Lieutenant: William Louis Skinner
Jackson Police Department, Ms
Killed In The Line Of Duty
Holmes Countians Mourn Death of Louis Skinner

Funeral services for one of Lexington's fine young men was held Saturday, August 21, as Detective Lieutenant William Louis Skinner was returned home for the final rites.

Louis age 36, was the son of Mrs. E.H. Skinner of Lexington and was married to former Miss Minette Moore, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. N. L. Moore of Lexington.

Skinner had lived in Jackson for the past 12 years and had been with the Jackson Police since October, 1960, starting out as a recruit. Earlier this year he was named to head up a new intelligence unit for the Jackson force.

It was in this line of duty that he lost his life. Detective Lt. Skinner died of injuries from a gunshot wound received early Wednesday morning, August 18.

Lt. Skinner is a graduate of the Lexington schools. He attended Holmes Jr. College and Mississippi College. While in the Armed Services he attained the rank of sergeant and served as an American Security Agent in Korea.

He was a member of the Hillcrest Baptist Church, the Mississippi-Tennessee Peace Officers Association, the Fraternal Order Police Brotherling, and the Masonic Capitol Lodge 600.

The funeral services were conducted at 10:00 a.m. Saturday in Jackson with his pastor Rev. Maurice Clyton of the Hillcrest Baptist Church officiating.

After the service in Jackson he was brought to Lexington at the First Baptist Church to lie in state from 2:00 p.m. until 3:00 p.m. with a prayer service at 3:00. The interment was held at Odd Fellows Cemetery with Masonic rites at the graveside.

Survivors are his wife, former Miss Minette Moore, Lexington; three sons, Bill, 12, Mike, 11, and Chris, 8 all of Jackson, his mother, Mrs. Callie Skinner of Lexington; three sisters, Mrs. Jack Strowd of Jackson, Mrs. Marie Beam of Roanoke, Va. and Mrs. Vivian Brown of Lexington; two brothers, Rev. David Skinner of Columbus and Hugh Skinner of Jackson.

Honorary pallbearers were Mayor Russell C. David, City Commissioner, Ed Cates and all Law Enforcement Officers, both state and Federal.

Active pallbearers were FBI Agent Ed Martin, retired Mayor Cecil Hadaway, Capt. Bill Bennett, Chief Lavell Tullos, Lt. John D. Moulder and ATF agent Pete Mastin.

Holmes County Herald - Page 1
August 26, 1971

Family Relations of William Louis Skinner

Parents:
Emmett Henry Skinner
Callie Emmie Lenore Vinson Skinner

Siblings:
Alene Marie Skinner Bean
Vivian Skinner Brown
Emmett Harold Skinner
Callie Elizabeth Skinner Strowd
James G. Skinner
Hugh Skinner
David Skinner
William Louis Skinner

Research Notes

Louis was killed in Jackson as a result of a gun battle that erupted and lasted about twenty minutes. Seventeen Jackson police officers joined seventeen FBI agents in a joint effort to apprehend a Republic of New Africa (RNA) fugitive wanted by the Detroit police on a murder warrant. Louis was shot in the head by one of the RNA members and never regained consciousness. Twenty-one hours later on August 19, 1971, Louis died. After Louis's death, the police-training academy in Jackson was named the William Louis Skinner Police Training Academy in his honor.

Shown in photo l. to r. Trey Skinner, Nikki Skinner, Angel Skinner, William Louis "Bill" Skinner II, David Skinner, Hugh Skinner, Shirley Skinner, Minette Skinner, Mike Skinner, Michael Skinner, Nicole Skinner, Judy Skinner, and Chris Skinner.

Note: Louis' three sons, Bill, Mike, and Chris each graduated from the Academy.

Biographical Information

Click here for newspaper articles relating to Lt. William Louis Skinner.

More information, family relationships, and images may be found by CLICKING HERE (external link)

---

Walking directions