Supporting Deputy Lawson’s Widow

On May 10th our community suffered a devastating loss when 22 year old Deputy Travis Lawson was killed in an off duty motorcycle accident. Travis was a remarkable young man who had already overcame so much in pursuit of his dreams.

In 2020, Travis was hired by the Nicholas County Sheriffs Department and shortly afterwards suffered a stroke. For most people that would be the end of their law enforcement career but not Travis. He pushed himself daily until he recovered fully and was able to return to work.

Still an uncertified officer, Travis had to pass a litany of test in order to be accepted into the WV Police Academy after his stroke. Due to this setback and the Covid Pandemic it took Travis nearly 2 years to attend the academy. True to form, Travis never gave up on his dream of becoming a deputy and he graduated the academy on April 1, 2022 earning himself the Perseverance Award in the process.

Although it was his dream to become a law enforcement officer, Travis’s sense of duty went far beyond his badge. He became a volunteer firefighter at the tender age of 16. Before being hired by the Sheriffs Department, Travis worked as a barber in his own shop. It wasn’t unusual to find Travis giving a free haircut to one of his brothers in blue especially during the pandemic shutdown.

An avid hunter, motorcycle enthusiast and public servant, Travis had many loves but not as great as his love for his beautiful wife Bridgette and his family. Sadly Bridgette was following Travis at the time of his fatal crash. She has not only suffered the devastating loss of her husband but now is left with the terrible images of his accident.

In the coming days, weeks and months Bridget will need all the love and support we can give her. It is unknown when she will be able to return to work or what a financial burden this tragedy will put on her. As her friends, family and neighbors we have a responsibility to come together and take care of this young widow. It’s what Travis would have wanted and it is exactly what he would do for any one of us.