Beloved Person County deputy passes away from pancreatitis at 60

Michael Currier's body was escorted by motorcycles, ambulances, squad cars to Roxboro — the deputy's hometown.

The 60-year-old had been a law enforcement officer for the past decade. "Big Mike," as everyone called him, made a career change after the Great Recession forced him out of the restaurant business.

Person County Sheriff Dewey Jones said becoming a deputy had always been Currier's dream.

"He came to us and filled out an application, and we sent him through the school," Jones said.

The day before Thanksgiving, Currier was rushed to the hospital with pancreatitis. After a two week fight, Big Mike passed away.

"It's totally unexpected," said Currier's big brother, Skeeta Currier.

Skeeta Currier took part in the procession from Duke Regional Hospital, on a familiar road home, seeing all the people who had come to love his brother.

"That tells you about Michael, and what people thought of him. I mean, that's a Thursday lunch hour, and this is happening," Jones said.

While Mike Currier was still in the hospital, the community came together to hold prayer vigils for him.

"We had people here that he arrested,"Jones said. "He had made such an impact on them that they came in support of him, in support of this department, because of interactions with him. He was just that type of person."