The American flag covering his casket as stoic honor guard members stood watch, Lt.Christopher "Chris" Michael Cunningham Sr. of the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office was laid to rest Saturday by family, friends, colleagues and even strangers who never had a chance to know him.
Cunningham, 48, died Aug. 5 at UF Health Jacksonville from a Covid-19 related illness the Sheriff's Office said he contracted in the line of duty.
Several hundred people gathered to celebrate his life Saturday at Paxon Revival Center Church in Jacksonville. They described Cunningham as a genuine public servant, a man of unwavering faith and a devoted family man.
Saturday was "a day of honor and of loss. One of our own had left us too soon," Williams said.
"While we all mourn, we must also choose to revel in the life that Chris led," said Williams, noting Cunningham's long-standing law enforcement career. "While his death is sudden and unexpected, his mark on all of us who worked with him is indelible."
Cunningham was a 22-year Sheriff's Office veteran. He'd worked his way up the ranks to become the commanding officer of the Crime Scene Unit, Latent Prints, and the Photo Lab.
Friday night, people also lined up to pay their respects to Cunningham and his family during visitation at Hardage-Giddens Funeral Home in Jacksonville.
Jacksonville Sheriff Mike Williams was among the mourners Saturday including local, county, and state law enforcement officers from throughout Northeast Florida who joined Cunningham's family, friends, and colleagues who shared their memories of him during the funeral service.
Cunningham will forever be remembered "for his unwavering commitment to the job and to the agency that he loved so much," Williams said.
"We also recognize that his greatest legacy is not that of being a police officer. His greatest legacy is that of being a son, brother, husband, father, and grandfather," Williams said.
Williams urged Sheriff's Office personnel to "stay strong and honor your calling the way Chris honored his."
"Chris was a leader in every way. He reminded us each day of his commitment to serve others," Williams said.
Born Nov. 23, 1971, in Lincolnton, Ga., he was the son of Carrie Lou and the late Zelma Cunningham, and was the youngest of three siblings.
He is survived by his wife, Gwendolyn Lalisa Cunningham of Jacksonville, two sons, two step-children; three granddaughters; and a former stepdaughter, according to his obituary.
Faith and family were at the foundation of Cunningham's life, family and friends said.
"He had a relationship with God that helped him to know that he was the best that God had made for doing what God wanted him to do," said Pastor Marvin Zanders II of St. Paul AME Church in Jacksonville, where every Sunday Cunningham and his family worshipped each Sunday.
"Lt. Cunningham lived his creed …He understood that as a leader, a mentor-leader that he had to make decisions, [because] indecision was a decision. You had to have action because inaction was action and you had to be obedient because delayed obedience is disobedience," Zanders said.
Cunningham served in the U.S. Navy before becoming a police officer. He was deployed on the USS George Washington and his last assignment saw him transferred to AIMD (weapons Department) at Naval Air Station Cecil Field in Jacksonville.
He received numerous Navy achievement honors and medals including the Southwest Asia Service Medal, recognizing his exemplary service. He Navy term ended May 5, 1998, and he transferred to the Naval Reserve where he remained on call, his obituary said.
Cunningham subsequently graduated from Columbia College majoring in criminal justice.
His daughter, Ashiya D, Prince-Morgan read aloud a Valentine's Day 2012 tribute to Cunningham from his beloved wife.
"…You are the sun to my dawn. You are the reason I shine …the tribute said.
Sgt. Jason Troeger, led one of the Crime Scene Unit squads under Cunningham's command. He recalled Cunningham's as a man of compassion who expected hard work and professionalism from his officers but asked no more of them than he himself gave. Cunningham watched over them all, and treated them as family, he said.
Troeger said Cunningham constantly asked how they and their families were doing, as well as 'how could he make the job better."
Cunningham also liked to dance. First thing in the morning, Cunningham would go stand in Troger's office door. Because of all the bad things, the officers see on the job, Cunningham insisted they take downtime they were entitled to, and told them not to stress over the job.
"I'd be typing away and he'd go, 'well,well, well, young fella. Good morning', then he'd break into dancing, first thing in the morning. It was just that nature that kept everybody smiling in our office," Troeger said.
Law enforcement officers from throughout Northeast Florida came to the funeral.
Neither Cpl.. Sean Creppel nor Deputy Quentin Beckton of the St. Johns County Sheriff's Office Motorcycle Unit didn't know Cunningham personally.
"We came to show our respect," Creppel said.