[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 126 (Monday, August 3, 2026)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E766-E767]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       IN MEMORY OF JILLIAN OLSON

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JOE WILSON

                           of south carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, August 3, 2026

  Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I am grateful for the 
opportunity to honor the life of Master Deputy Jillian Olson, a true 
South Carolina hero, who dedicated her life to protecting and serving 
others. My wife, Roxanne, my staff, and I send prayers to her family, 
friends, and colleagues during this difficult time. May God Bless the 
men and women of law enforcement who put their lives on the line every 
day to keep us safe. I include in the Record an inspiring obituary 
provided by Caughman-Harman Funeral Home:


[[Page E767]]


  

       Jillian was born on March 29, 1997, in Evanston, Illinois, 
     and raised in Northbrook and Buffalo Grove, Illinois, where 
     her adventurous spirit, determination, and love for family 
     first took root.
       From an early age, Jillian dreamed of moving south and 
     serving in law enforcement. She attended Western Illinois 
     University, where she earned her Bachelor of Science in Law 
     Enforcement and Justice Administration with minors in 
     Political Science and Women's Studies in 2019; and her Master 
     of Science in College Student Personnel Services in 2021. 
     After graduation, she followed her dreams of moving south and 
     made Lexington, South Carolina, her home in 2021, along with 
     her beloved dog, Pudge. She later welcomed Levi and Ziggy 
     into her family and was a loving dog mom to all three until 
     her passing.
       Jillian was sworn in as a Lexington County Sheriff Deputy 
     on June 14, 2021, by Sheriff Jay Koon. In 2023, Jillian 
     received the Sheriff's Tactical Operations Support Award, in 
     recognition of her contributions to the department. Jillian 
     joined the Lexington County Sheriff's Department Dive Team in 
     May 2024. Her willingness to volunteer for specialized 
     assignments reflected her dedication to serving both the 
     department and her community above and beyond what was 
     required for her position. She was promoted to Master Deputy 
     of the Warrant Division in March 2025, and Jillian quickly 
     established herself as a dependable leader who consistently 
     sought ways to improve operations and support those around 
     her. Jillian's commitment to excellence continued to be 
     recognized throughout her career. She was named the 2025 
     Outstanding Judicial Services Deputy by the Lexington County 
     Sheriff's Foundation in March of this year. This award 
     recognized her exceptional initiative, leadership, and the 
     lasting impact of the job tools she had created for fellow 
     and future deputies of the Lexington County Sheriff's 
     Department. Her contributions to the Lexington County 
     Sheriff's Department will continue to benefit future 
     deputies, and her dedication, character, and legacy will not 
     be forgotten.
       Outside of work, Jillian embraced life wholeheartedly. She 
     loved spending time on the lake paddleboarding, floating in 
     the sunshine, and diving. She had recently celebrated her 
     100th dive, a milestone reflecting her adventurous spirit and 
     love of exploring the underwater world. She was endlessly 
     curious and determined. Jillian took immense pride in her 
     home and eagerly tackled projects she had never done before--
     teaching herself new skills through research, persistence, 
     and hard work. Whether it was installing ceiling fans, 
     painting, completing electrical projects, or learning to 
     cook, she believed almost anything could be learned with 
     enough effort.
       Jillian was known for her quick wit, infectious laugh, 
     colorful vocabulary, and genuine honesty. She had a 
     remarkable way of making people feel welcome and important. 
     She was fiercely loyal, deeply compassionate, and always 
     ready to help family, friends, coworkers, and anyone in need.
       Her greatest joy came from the people she loved. She 
     cherished her parents, siblings, grandparents, niece and 
     nephew, friends, and her beloved dogs. She especially 
     treasured being ``Bebe'' to her nephew, Lochlann, whose 
     imaginative stories cast her as a hero capable of catching 
     bad guys and rescuing creatures from volcanoes.
       Jillian is survived by her loving parents, Jim and Molly 
     Olson; her siblings, Corey Olson (Janedelie), Julia Wiegmann 
     (Aaron), and Courtney Olson; her nephew Lochlann; her niece, 
     Amelia; her grandparents John and Judy, and Ron and Mimi; her 
     cherished dogs, Pudge, Levi, and Ziggy; and countless 
     friends, fellow deputies, and loved ones whose lives are 
     forever better because she was a part of them.
       She will be remembered for her courage, humor, loyalty, 
     adventurous spirit, and the extraordinary way she made every 
     person in her life feel seen, valued, and loved.

                          ____________________