A memorial service was held Friday for a Henry County deputy who died last weekend from COVID-19 complications.
Deputy Nicholas Howell died Sunday morning at Henry Piedmont Hospital, the sheriff’s office announced.
Among those who paid their respects was NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal, who has a home in Henry County.
It was not clear when Howell was first diagnosed with COVID-19, or how long he had been hospitalized prior to his death.
Howell, who joined the sheriff’s office in February 2019, is survived by his wife and five children. He was 36.
Henry Sheriff Reginald Scandrett extended his condolences to the family of the fallen deputy, whose death comes less than two months after Scandrett’s own battle with the disease.
Howell was described as a “consummate law enforcement professional” and a devoted husband and father.
“As his family told me ... he did everything,” Scandrett said at Howell’s memorial service. “He took care of it all. But he not only did that for you all. He also did it for the men and women who are standing behind you.”
Credit: Channel 2 Action News
Credit: Channel 2 Action News
Scandrett was among five newly elected Georgia sheriffs to test positive for COVID-19 while attending a statewide training event. He first tested positive Nov. 24, he previously told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
“My symptoms ran the gamut,” he said at the time. “I would not wish this on anyone. It’s not a joke.”
Howell’s memorial service was held one day after the Henry County Police Department lost a veteran sergeant to COVID complications.
Sgt. David Crumpler died Thursday after spending more than a week in the hospital in a medically-induced coma and on a ventilator. His colleagues said he previously retired from the department, but came back part-time as a training instructor because he loved what he did.
“I feel like Henry County needs to know who you really were,” the department wrote in a social media post, describing Crumpler as a gentleman, a teacher and a “joy-filled servant.”
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