Robeson County's high school football teams will be sporting 'JG45' decals on the backs of their helmets. Brad Crawford | The Robesonian

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LUMBERTON — A black and white “JG 45” that honors a fallen Lumberton police officer will be apparent from the huddle, the end zone and on the sideline when Robeson County football teams take the field the rest of the year.

All six of Robeson County’s high school football teams and several middle school programs will play with commemorative decals on the backs of their helmets to honor Jeremiah Goodson, who was shot and killed on July 17.

Lumberton High Athletic Director Tripp Satterwhite approached Public Schools of Robeson County Athletic Director Jason Suggs shortly after Goodson’s murder and both thought it was a good idea. There were 1,000 of the decals printed at a cost of $200.

“We pitched it to the athletic directors over the rest of the county and told everyone it was strictly voluntary,” Suggs said. “We’re using the helmet sticker as a way of honoring a man in the community who died during the line of duty.”

Goodson was killed while attempting to serve a warrant for the arrest of 27-year-old Marques Brown, who is accused of shooting Goodson multiple times as he approached Brown’s vehicle at the Xpress Depot at 5030 Fayetteville Road.

The applied logo is a small black circle with white script located on the back right side of each helmet. Goodson’s initials and car number — 45 — are displayed.

“It’s a neat deal for the players and coaches in our county to honor a local hero,” Suggs said.

Goodson’s three-mile funeral procession — from Lumberton High School westward to his final resting place at Gardens of Faith Cemetery — a few days later included hundreds of officers and sheriff’s deputies from as far west as the mountains of Asheville and as far east as the beaches of Kure and Carolina.

He is survived by his wife, two children and a stepson. One of the children was born in the days following Goodson’s murder.

There have been multiple efforts to collect money to help Goodson’s family, including the Jeremiah Goodson Memorial Fund at First South Bank, which has branches at 3000 N. Elm St. and 600 N. Chestnut St

Reach Staff writer Brad Crawford at 910-272-6119 or at bcrawford@heartlandpublications.com.