Community Says Goodbye to White at Funeral | News

MIDDLEBURG, Fla. -- A steady stream of mourners paid their respects to a North Florida detective killed while investigating a tip about a meth lab.

SLIDESHOW: David White's Funeral Procession

Monday morning Clay County Sheriff Rick Beseler said "David was a hero, a man among men."  At today's funeral service a poem that David wrote to his wife Jennifer was read to mourners.  It said in part, "she found me and has never let me go.  For this I am ever grateful."

"This may sound strange, but David did not die," said First Baptist Church of Middleburg Pastor Alan Floyd.  "He is present with the Lord.  He simply changed residences."

Florida Governor Rick Scott, who also attended the service, said the hearts of 19 million Floridians go out to White's family.
 
A day earlier, friends and family formed a long line for a viewing at the Russell Haven of Rest Funeral Home in Green Cove Springs for Clay County Sheriff's Detective David White. Our Florida Times-Union news partner reports  that a flag flew at half-staff outside the funeral home and that White's family arrived by police escort.
 
The 35-year-old detective died Thursday after a shootout at a Middleburg home. A suspect also was killed, and another detective was wounded.

Following today's funeral in Middleburg, a burial took place at Russell Haven of Rest Cemetery in Green Cove Springs.
 
White was a nine-year veteran of the sheriff's office, as well as an Army veteran.