JSO Veteran Set to Be Remembered Saturday, August 15
August 14, 2020
A funeral celebrating the life of Police Lieutenant Chris Cunningham will take place at 11 a.m. on Saturday, August 15, 2020, at the Paxon Revival Center Church located at 5461 Commonwealth Avenue.
The funeral will be open to the public and COVID-19 measures will be in place.
Those wishing to pay their respects can also attend the wake on Friday, August 14th from 5 p.m. – 8 p.m. at Hardage-Giddens Funeral Home located at 11801 San Jose Boulevard. Graveside services will take place at a later date and will be for family only.
Cunningham passed away on Wednesday, August 5th following complications caused by the COVID-19 virus that he contracted in the line of duty in early July. Following his untimely passing, hundreds of law enforcement officers and members of the community paid tribute to Lt. Cunningham as his body was moved from the Medical Examiner’s Office to the Funeral Home on Friday, August 7th.
Cunningham, a 22-year veteran of the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, achieved the rank to Police Lieutenant in 2011. He most notably served as the Commanding Officer of the Crime Scene Unit, Latent Prints Unit and Photo Lab, a role he served in up until the time of his death.
"It is with great sadness that I share the news that Police Lieutenant Chris Cunningham (ID #7687) passed away today due to a COVID-19 related illness,” said Sheriff Mike Williams shortly after Lt. Cunningham’s passing.
He went on to say, “He served our community for more than 20 years. While his death is sudden and unexpected, his mark on all of us that worked with him is indelible. We will forever remember his unwavering commitment to the job and agency he loved so much. His JSO family mourns with his wife, Lisa and his children.”