CARROLL COUNTY, Ga. — For a second week in a row, metro Atlanta is saying goodbye to a fallen deputy.
Carroll County Sheriff’s Office Investigator Taylor Bristow died on Aug. 23, three days after he was shot while executing a search warrant in Carrollton.
Bristow died six days after Paulding County deputy Brandon Cunningham was shot and killed while responding to a domestic call in Hiram.
Both suspects took their own lives.
Cunningham was laid to rest this past Friday. On Wednesday evening, hundreds gathered at Mount Holly Church in Carrolton for Bristow’s visitation.
His aunt-in-law, Rachael Henderson, stepped outside to speak on her niece’s behalf.
“Nobody wants to be in this situation but it does make it easier when there is so much honor and love shown,” Henderson said.
She said her niece and Bristow’s widow, Melissa Bristow, wanted to make sure the community, local businesses and law enforcement knew how much she and her family appreciated the outpouring of love and support.
Henderson said that seeing all the posts on social media has brought a little light in such dark times.
“Reading all the stories on social media about all the lives that Taylor touched has been a huge comfort,” she explained.
Known as Investigator Bristow around the county -- Badge 943 to his colleagues -- Taylor to his family and friends and Tay Tay to two young children he loved as his own.
“He loved my niece Melissa with all his heart, and he loved her children with all his heart. They called him Officer Tay Tay,” Henderson said.
Bristow paid the ultimate sacrifice while protecting his community.
On Aug. 20, he approached a home to assist the Georgia Bureau of Investigation in an ongoing child pornography investigation. While neither the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office nor the GBI have clearly explained how Taylor was shot, the state agency said it happened as the suspect shot himself. The GBI said no officer fired their weapon.
While the family is still waiting for answers, they have some comfort in knowing he died a hero.
“We never expected obviously for this to happen, but we know that he gave his life doing what he loved. He was a true hero,” Henderson explained.
Even in such a somber moment, as Henderson talked about him, she couldn’t help but smile.
“I’ll always remember Taylor sitting in a big comfy chair with a beer watching football,” Henderson said.
She said he was a huge Georgia Bulldogs and Atlanta Braves fan. Henderson even mentioned he is being buried in his favorite Bulldogs hat.
An easy-going guy, that is, unless his sports team didn’t pull off a win.
“Just always smiling, just so chill nothing ruffled him unless his team was losing,” Henderson explained as she smiled.
Henderson said their family just hopes when it’s all said and done, the loss of not only their loved one but also Deputy Cunningham will remind people of the importance of law enforcement in our communities.
“I think the biggest thing that would make them proud is if we really start to appreciate our law enforcement and don’t wait until they’re gone to say thank you to them,” she explained.
Both Bristow and Cunningham were just 30 years old, with both leaving behind young children, siblings, wives and parents.
How to help Bristow's family
Last week, the sheriff's office said the above link is the "only legitimate donation site" to support Bristow's family, which is provided by West Georgia First Responders.