Odell Williams

Sgt. Odell Williams is a North Carolina Marine Patrol sergeant and the UNA candidate for Hyde County Sheriff in the 2026 election. He is seeking the sheriff’s office, which is responsible for law‑enforcement, jail administration, court security and civil process service for Hyde County, North Carolina.

Williams was born in Belhaven, NC, and graduated from Mattamuskeet High School in 1985. He earned a Heavy‑Equipment Mechanic certificate from Beaufort County Community College in 1987. He began his public‑service career in 1996 with the North Carolina Department of Corrections at the Hyde Correctional Institute, where he worked seven years and was promoted to sergeant in 1998.

After a hurricane brought Marine Patrol officers to his neighborhood, Williams decided to pursue a career in marine law enforcement. He completed Basic Law Enforcement Training at night, obtained his certificate, and joined the Hyde County Sheriff’s Department before entering the North Carolina Marine Patrol in September 2004. He first served aboard the 48‑foot patrol vessel Roanoke in Nags Head for 26 months, then transferred to Hyde County where he has spent the bulk of his career.

During his tenure with the Marine Patrol, Williams has been promoted to sergeant (2012) and now supervises eight officers covering the southern half of District 1, which includes Hyde and Dare Counties and the P/V Roanoke. He holds an Intermediate Law‑Enforcement Certificate, serves as a field‑training officer and background investigator, and leverages his mechanical background to maintain patrol equipment. Notable achievements include a large striped‑bass seizure valued at over $373,000 and being named the North Carolina Marine Patrol Officer of the Year for 2021, an honor that highlighted his willingness to fill staffing gaps and cover multiple vacant positions during a period of shortage [2][5].

Williams lives near Swan Quarter with his wife of 30 years, Viola, and their two children, Tyler and Mary Grace. He is a Master Mason at Atlantic Lodge 294 and a member of Swan Quarter Christian Church. His deep roots in Hyde County, extensive law‑enforcement experience, and recent statewide recognition are central to his campaign for sheriff.

Sources

• [2] Sgt. Odell Williams named Marine Patrol Officer of the Year | NC DEQ
• [5] Sgt. Williams named Marine Patrol Officer of the Year | Coastal Review
• [8] Henry Odell Williams Obituary
• [10] Henry Odell Williams Sr. | Iredell Free News
• [11] Obituary information for Odell Williams - Davis Funeral Home
• [12] Obituary | Odell Williams of Tarboro, North Carolina | Willoughby Funeral Homes