Holly MatkinCherokee County, GA – Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) Deputy Zachary “Zach” Christian Barksdale died on Nov. 20 due to complications of a diabetic seizure, according to his family.
The 26-year-old deputy was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at the age of 11, his stepmother, Julie Thomas Barksdale, explained in a Facebook post on Tuesday.
“They haven’t finalized the medical report, but it appears that he had a diabetic seizure…passing away at home on November 20th,” Barksdale wrote.
The CCSO spoke about the young deputy’s death in a Facebook post on Sunday.
“It’s with deep sadness we announce the death of one of our deputies,” the sheriff’s office said. “Deputy [Zachary] Barksdale was an exemplary employee who always had a smile on his face. He will be greatly missed. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends.”
Deputy Barksdale served the CCSO for two-and-one-half years and was assigned to the department’s adult detention center at the time of his death.
Hundreds of people offered their condolences on the sheriff’s office’s Facebook page in the wake of the announcement.
One resident described Deputy Barksdale as a “charming, outgoing, polite young man with an unforgettable smile.”
“He was an extraordinary young man who always made me and my kids smile and laugh every time we ran into him,” another post read. “My thoughts and prayers are with his family.”
Barksdale said her family is thankful to the CCSO, the Cobb County Police Department and firefighters, and all the first responders who came to help them and Deputy Barksdale.
“Please continue to pray for all of us as we grieve and process this great loss in our family,” she wrote.
Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Zachary “Zach” Christian Barksdale, both blood and blue. Thank you for your service.
Rest easy, hero. We’ll hold the line from here.
Sandy Malone
