Deputy Derrick Bonham to be honored with Sea of Blue, funeral set for Monday

Law enforcement officers and emergency responders from across the region will gather this evening for a Sea of Blue tribute to honor Weakley County Sheriff’s Deputy Derrick Bonham, who was shot and killed in the line of duty Jan. 30 while responding to a disturbance in Martin.

The tribute procession is scheduled for Sunday night, with vehicles lining up at 5:30 p.m. on Highway 22 in front of the Weakley County Sheriff’s Office. The procession will depart at 6 p.m., traveling along the 45E Bypass and concluding in Greenfield on Front Street.

Bonham, 37, was assisting Martin police when he encountered a suspect at a nearby gas station. According to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, Khristi Dawn Cunningham, 42, of Ohio, allegedly brandished a weapon and fatally shot Bonham. She was arrested at the scene and charged with first-degree murder.

Bonham joined the sheriff’s office in February 2024 following his graduation from the Tennessee Law Enforcement Training Academy. He is survived by his wife, Nicole, and their three children, ages 7, 4 and 3.

“To me, he was a loving husband—my partner, my best friend, my heart,” Nicole Bonham said in a public statement. “But above all else, Derrick was a devoted father. His kids were his everything. Every decision he made, every sacrifice he accepted, was rooted in his love for them and his desire to give them a life filled with safety, laughter, and pride.”

She described her husband’s pride in serving both the Weakley County Sheriff’s Office and Greenfield Police Department.

“Those departments were more than just where he worked—they were part of his family,” she said. “He believed wholeheartedly in the mission and brotherhood they represent.”

Funeral services for Bonham will take place Monday, Feb. 2, at Greenfield School Gymnasium, 319 W. Main St. Visitation will begin at 10 a.m., followed by a memorial service at 2 p.m. A law enforcement procession will escort him to Highland Cemetery for interment with full honors.

Family and law enforcement parking will be available at the gymnasium. Public parking is located at the corners of South Faxon Street and Woodlawn and at West Main and Faxon.

A press conference is scheduled for 11 a.m. Monday in front of Greenfield Banking Company. Media will not be permitted inside the memorial service per the family’s request for privacy.

Flags on all Weakley County government property have been ordered to half-staff through Feb. 6 by County Mayor Dale Hutcherson, who described Bonham’s actions as “an inspiring example of dedication and service.”

Nicole Bonham expressed thanks for the outpouring of support.

“Your kindness and generosity have wrapped us in comfort when words fall short,” she said. “While our hearts are broken, we will continue to honor him by remembering the man he was, the father he adored being, and the legacy of love and bravery he leaves behind.”

Three verified support efforts are in place for the Bonham family:

• Police Benevolent Foundation fund

• A local fund at Greenfield Banking Company under the name “Bonham Memorial”

• Meal Train for the Bonham family

The Weakley County Sheriff’s Office urges the public to verify any other fundraising efforts through its official channels.