The FBI held a solemn ceremony Monday in Poplarville, placing flowers on the headstone of Assistant Director Percy E. Foxworth, the highest-ranking FBI official ever killed in the line of duty. The ceremony marked 81 years since Foxworth’s death during a secret World War II mission.

Foxworth, a Poplarville native, died on January 15, 1943, in a military plane crash near Paramaribo, Suriname, while en route to North Africa to question individuals suspected of Nazi collaboration. The crash, the deadliest aviation accident in U.S. history at the time, claimed the lives of all 35 passengers and crew on board.

Although Foxworth’s remains were interred at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in Missouri, the ceremony honored his memory in his hometown, where a headstone stands beside the graves of his wife, Ann, and their stillborn daughter.

A Legacy of Service

During the ceremony, Ed Worthington, a retired FBI special agent in charge of Mississippi, reflected on Foxworth’s legacy.

“Percy Foxworth exemplified dedication, integrity, and selflessness,” Worthington said. “As a small-town boy from South Mississippi, he rose through the ranks to become an assistant director of the FBI, demonstrating exceptional character and leadership.”

Born in 1906 in Purvis, Miss., Foxworth attended Poplarville High School and Pearl River Junior College before pursuing accounting studies. He joined the FBI in 1932 and quickly rose through the ranks, serving as an administrative assistant to Director J. Edgar Hoover and later as the head of the New York Field Office.

During World War II, Hoover and General Dwight D. Eisenhower handpicked Foxworth for a critical mission in Algeria. Tragically, his plane crashed before reaching its destination.

Honoring His Memory

The ceremony, attended by current and former FBI agents, family members, and local officials, highlighted Foxworth’s contributions to the FBI and the nation. In 1991, he was posthumously awarded the FBI Medal of Honor, which was presented to his wife shortly before she died in 1992.

Former Pearl River County Supervisor Hudson Holliday, Foxworth’s nephew by marriage, played a key role in ensuring his legacy would be recognized in Poplarville. Holliday and his wife donated the cemetery plot where the headstone now stands.

“We wanted to reunite Percy with his family, at least in spirit,” Holliday said. “This headstone serves as a reminder of his sacrifice and the profound impact he had on our country.”

A Call for Recognition

During the ceremony, Holliday urged the community to honor Foxworth’s legacy further.

“I challenge the city to name a street after Percy or place a sign commemorating his life,” Holliday said. “His story deserves to be remembered as a source of pride for Poplarville.”

Foxworth’s dedication and ultimate sacrifice remain a testament to the values of service and integrity. Foxworth’s legacy is an enduring example of courage and commitment as the FBI continues its mission to protect and serve.