“That woman right there, she saved my family. She saved my life.”
Speaking from his heart, Neil Holtzclaw paid tribute to his wife, Avonlea, during the funeral Saturday for her and the couple’s two children. The 29-year-old wife and mother died in a wreck on GA 365 in Alto on Sunday, July 16, along with her son Colton, 7, and daughter, Maddie Kate, 5.
Two caskets stood at the front of the worship center at Free Chapel in Gainesville on July 22 – one for the children, another for Avonlea. Dressed in his Hall County Sheriff’s uniform, Deputy Holtzclaw kneeled on the floor in front of their caskets with his arms raised toward heaven as the service began.
Several hundred people attended the service, including law enforcement officers and Georgia’s Governor and First Lady, Brian and Marty Kemp.
Avonlea’s heart
Throughout the hour-long service, speakers remembered Avonlea as a loving wife and mother. Her pastor and Bible studies teacher described her as a faithful Christian whose “love for the Lord oozed into everything that she did.”
“The best way that we can honor her today is to share what was most important to her, what was her heart,” said Pastor Karen Smith of Christ Fellowship Church. “And I believe her heart was her husband and her family, her children, but folks, I’m here to tell you that more than anything, her heart was the Lord Jesus Christ. I truly believe that from what I heard her say in class oftentimes and how I saw her treat other people.”
Smith is the President of the Kineo Ministry Training Center at Christ Fellowship in Dawsonville. Avonlea was a year two graduate and degree student in the program. She celebrated her most recent graduation in June. A real estate transaction coordinator, Avonlea also held a degree in Arabic language and literature and a minor in criminal justice (forensics) from North Georgia College and State University, according to her online profiles.
Smith said Avonlea loved to learn.
“She was always passionate about her studies, always on top of things.” The pastor added, “She loved coming to church. Church was her life – that’s what held her up.”
Questioning why?
Christ Fellowship’s other senior pastor Todd Smith spoke of the Holtzclaw family’s “incredible grief,” adding, “Many of us, our hearts are broken, and we’re very disturbed.” He said he doesn’t know of anything in his thirty years of ministry that has quite moved him like the events of this past week.
Acknowledging the question on so many people’s minds – how could such a terrible thing happen to such good people, the pastor said, “I do not have an easy explanation for that, and I don’t have the time to talk to you about that today, but I do know this, Holtzclaw,” he said, addressing the bereaved husband and father, “I do know that God did not take your family. He did not take your wife, nor did He take your children.”
Saying that God often gets blamed for things that He never did, the pastor added, “Sometimes the actions of others affect innocent people. And for that, I’m deeply sorry.”
Smith offered words of comfort and hope from the Bible reading from Psalms 37:18. He also pledged his church’s continued support for Deputy Holtzclaw, assuring him, “You are not alone.”
‘God did not take my family’
Near the end of the service, Deputy Holtzclaw unexpectedly took to the podium. He spoke movingly of his wife’s impact on his life and told how she held their family together during difficult times. He also spoke of the strength he’s found in his faith in recent days.
“I’m telling you right now, guys, our inner strength is the Holy Spirit,” he said, addressing his fellow deputies. “You have to seek it. That woman did. She made me seek it.”
Holtzclaw then reiterated what his pastor had said.
“God didn’t take my family. We’re in an evil world. We know bad stuff happens; we see it every day.” He added, “I’ve had my peace since Monday. I spoke to God. I spoke to the Holy Spirit. And I spoke with my wife, and I’m at peace and urge every one of you to be.”
Following the funeral, a burial service for the three family members was held at Memorial Park Cemetery in Gainesville.
