Full Notification

Deputy Jerry Berryhill’s two decades of dedication to the McDowell County Sheriff’s Office earned him Employee of the Year honors for 2013.
He received the award at a Sheriff’s Office dinner in December.
“Jerry has been a dedicated employee of the Sheriff’s Office for the 19 years that I’ve been acquainted with him,” said Sheriff Dudley Greene. “He has worked in the jail and in patrol. He is one of those quiet, unassuming, yet dependable, employees that will step up and get the job done, no matter the task at hand.”
Jerry has nearly 20 years of law enforcement under his belt – all with the McDowell County Sheriff’s Office.
He said he worked during the days and studied in Spruce Pine at night to complete basic law enforcement training in the mid-90s.
“I love helping people and other agencies and meeting new people,” Jerry stated when asked about the best part of his job.
But being a deputy consists of much more than that, including teamwork and leadership. Jerry’s lieutenant, Dave Marler, nominated him as Employee of the Year for the outstanding work Jerry did when Dave was injured and out of work for an extended period of time.
“He stepped up for Dave for a number of weeks and did an exemplary job,” said the sheriff. “We appreciate his willingness to do it. Jerry is a tremendous asset to this office and to the county.”
This is not Jerry’s first award. He was named Region C Jailer of the Year in 1995.
He and his wife, Suzanna, an emergency room nurse at McDowell Hospital, have two sons, 28-year-old Garrett and 25-year-old Tyler. Garrett has a wife, Suni, and a 4-month-old daughter, Freya.
In his spare time, he flies remote-control airplanes and dabbles in intarsia woodworking.