Prohibition began as a well-intentioned and earnest effort by politicians and temperance movement leaders to stem the tide of evils threatening Americans due to the use of alcohol. However, none could have envisioned how differently and disastrously the period would end. Former President Herbert Hoover referred to Prohibition as "the great social and economic experiment." The good intentions inspiring these thirteen years were juxtaposed with the rise of the very criminal acts that the Volstead Act sought to curtail. 

The evils of the Prohibition period rocked the citizens of two sleepy little Mississippi towns, Leakesville and Richton, to their cores. U.S. Treasury Special Agent Jacob "Jake" Francis Green and Richton Town Marshal Lawrence Dunnam were gunned down on April Fool's Day of 1921 when attempting to shut down an illegal moonshine still and arrest its operators. Little did the officers know that four men were waiting to murder them. Someone had tipped off the moonshiners. From that day on, the trajectory of the lives of members of these two families took a markedly different path. 

As Jake Green's youngest grandchild, author Juanita Green Hollinghead’s quest for the truth led her on a journey of discovery that became her life's mission. The facts she has uncovered are astounding as she brings to life this riveting account of the true-crime event that shaped her family’s history. Perhaps other survivors want to understand better the process of how and where to find clues to the truth of their families' tragic events.

What Others Are Saying

“Beyond the Green Widow is a fantastic read and a wonderful tribute to heroes gunned down in their prime by Mississippi moonshiners.”

–James Langley, ATF Association of Retirees Executive Director

“An engaging story about the journey Juanita takes to uncover the mysterious shroud surrounding the murder of her grandfather, Jake Green. Through tireless research and perseverance, she pieces together the full puzzle of her family history. This book provides valuable insight into the history of the prohibition era in Greene County.”

–Arrixie Garretson Sproul, Interim Director of Greene County Museum

“I was so impressed with the book. The research and detail were amazing.”

–Joey Miles, Agent-in-Charge, Mississippi Alcoholic Beverage Control

Beyond the Green Widow provides a heartfelt true story of sacrifice and the danger facing all law enforcement and the effect on their families. Juanita Hollinghead’s and Sherye Green’s presentation is impactful in its detail of the costs of duty. It underscores how the impact of a law enforcement professional’s death in the line of duty reverberates for generations on the families and communities who endure it. This book is a must-read story that honors and cements this sacrifice. We must never forget!

–Shan L. Kirk, Senior Special Agent-Retired, United States Secret Service

“Hollinghead brilliantly unveils this true crime story with such heartfelt passion and devotion.”

–Regina (Regg) Lombardo, Chief Security Officer, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, New York

“Stories such as the one of Jake Green help us to remember … what good men will do in the face of evil.”

–Chief (Ret.) Luke Thompson, Police Chief for City of Byram, Mississippi 

“Beyond the Green Widow is a compelling reminder of the sacrifices made by law enforcement officers and their families. Jake’s story demonstrates the long shadow cast by loss and the power of storytelling to preserve our shared history.”

–William Alexander, Chief Executive Officer, National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund

by Juanita Green Hollinghead, Sherye S. Green 
Page Count: 252
Trim Size: 6 x 9
Publish Date: December 17, 2024
Imprint: Sunbury Press
Genre: True Crime

TRUE CRIME / Historical
BIOGRAPHY & AUTOBIOGRAPHY / Law Enforcement
HISTORY/United States/State & Local/South