ABBEVILLE: In the City of Abbeville, the county seat of Henry County, the Henry County Commission and Henry County Sheriff are in the midst of a complete jail overhaul and additions to the jail.
In the construction, they are adding an enclosed sally port to drive in and doors be closed for inmates which will not allow inmates to escape before being carried inside the jail.
Before the construction the jail capacity for women was 12, and total full is 90 inmates. When the new construction is complete the Henry County Jail will be up-to-date to current standards.
The former Henry County Sheriff’s: Sheriff Welcher, Norman Holman, Lawton Ed Armstrong, Will Maddox and Eric Blankenship. At the time of Sheriff Welcher’s death, he was living in the Henry County Jail. The front of the jail was Sheriff Welcher’s house and the back of the house was the Henry County Jail. Sheriff Welcher’s died of cancer during his time as Sheriff. During those times the Coroner was automatically Sheriff until the Governor appointed a Sheriff.
During that time James Golden and Lawton Ed Armstrong were seeking the Office of Henry County Sheriff. Because the election was contested, then Alabama Governor Guy Hunt appointed Henry County Coroner Norman Holman as Henry County Sheriff. The election was in November and Lawton Ed Armstrong was elected. That was years ago.
Well, Henry County Coroner and now Henry County Coroner/Henry County Sheriff Norman Holman enjoyed being Sheriff. So Sheriff Norman Holman remained in office until Sheriff Welcher’s term ended in January ( years ago ).
The law changed several years ago and now if something happens to the incumbent Sheriff the highest ranking officer in the department is automatically Sheriff until the sitting Governor appoints someone as Sheriff.
Then Henry County Coroner/Henry County Sheriff Norman Holman and Sheriff Elect Lawton Ed Armstrong wives said NO WAY, I am not living in the jail!!!! So the jail was remodeled and size increased.
Other than camera updates during Sheriff Will Maddox tenure and Jail Administrator Lee Padgett, not much any construction work has been done to the Henry County Jail. That May 16, 2019.
Under Sheriff Welcher through Sheriff Maddox, the Sheriff was personally responsible for feeding the inmates. If there was a profit that went to the Sheriff and if a loss the Sheriff was personally responsible. That has since been changed and the cost for the operation of the jail is a county responsibility.
FUNNY HISTORY: When Sheriff Welcher was living and residing in the jail, someone stole his newspaper. Sheriff Welcher had him arrested. Then one got mad at the Sheriff because he would not let him visit someone in the jail. The guy spun his tires and threw rocks under the carport at the jail. Sheriff Welcher had him arrested.
Sheriff Welcher loved playing domino’s. In his office was a side office where he and others would play domino’s.
Under those times, the Sheriff was god of the county. What he said went. If the Sheriff sent word he wanted to see him, you went to see the Sheriff without questions or warrants.
