Funeral for Deputy Goforth watched by thousands

The funeral for  Deputy Darren Goforth wasn't just at Second Baptist Church. It was everywhere there was a tv monitor. Hundreds of people watched it from Northwest Harris County where the deputy was gunned down.

One of the most moving scenes at the Chevron gas station was during the ceremonial last radio call for the deputy.  Law enforcement officers stood with there eyes affixed to where Deputy Goforth was shot down, while citizens held hands in a giant ring around them. It was a symbolic embrace to peace officers everywhere.

"It really brought a tear to my eye," said one police officer who drove from out of town. "I'm glad this community is coming together so well."

Officers and citizens at the gas station didn't miss a word of the entire service. Some watched at Husky's restaurant nearby, but most were out in the sun participating as if they were inside church. The prayers, the songs, and the eulogies were just as powerful. And as tears flowed at Second Baptist, they flowed at this corner Chevron station.

"Oh, it was phenomenal," said Sharon Stanley, a woman who had been a volunteer at the memorial site all week long. "I had to get up and leave. It was that touching."

Stanley didn't really leave. She went back out to the intersection to collect more donations.

"You don't have to ask.  Drivers are rolling the window down and honking at you," she said. "You just got to be able to go from car to car to get it."

Donations brought in to the corner memorial are approaching the $200,000 mark. Stanley says every penny of it will go to the deputy's widow and two children.

But what happens now that the funeral has been held? The owner of the Chevron station, who says the deputy was his friend, is in no hurry to move the memorial. It's clear the public is in no hurry to see this gathering place go away.

"It feels good to be able to come out here and support the family," one woman said after greeting a line off officers standing on post. "Just having someone from the community be able to come out and say, 'we support you. If there's anything we can do.' Even if it's just a prayer and a good thought then that's what we will do."

Officers say it's hard to express how much they appreciate the public's support. They just hope it will last.

"I believe it will," said the out of town officer. "I believe people's hearts are good in general, and I think it's a wake up call for, not just here, but all of the United States."

Houston police officer McQueston was more certain about whether the warmth from the community will continue.

"Of course it will," she said.