Written by Dec. 30 in the Houston Chronicle
More than 1,000 people stood Saturday afternoon as the family of slain Bellaire police officer Sgt. Jimmie Norman walked into Houston’s First Baptist Church to take their seats.
City, county, state and federal officers uniformed in shades of blue, black and brown watched silently for six minutes as Norman’s family members walked past. The silence was broken only by the whisper of an overhead projector as it cycled through images of Norman’s life as a 28-year police veteran, husband of 31 years, father to two adult children and charitable friend to many more.
The photos showed a man who often wore Ray Ban aviator sunglasses, whether in uniform, posing with family at the Missouri state line, or cheering at an Astros game.
Norman, 53, was fatally shot Christmas Eve after a traffic stop became a deadly confrontation that also ended with the death of a bystander who came to his aid, Terry Taylor. The suspect, Harlem Harold Lewis, was left in critical condition and has been charged with capital murder.
Friends and family who attended the funeral remained silent throughout the service, only softly chuckling a couple times and often raising hands to wipe tears.
“I have no words,” said Bellaire Police Chief Byron Holloway. “I have pain. But I have no words.”
Read the full story at Chron.com.
JAYME FRASER 