Fort Worth, Texas – With her long, straight hair and dark glasses concealing sad eyes, Rosalind Williams stood in the front pew, 20 feet from the body of her only child, as a gospel choir began its powerful song.
Darrent Williams’ journey from birth to Bronco was shown in a 20-minute video tribute during a memorial service Friday night in the first of two massive celebrations of his life.
An estimated 2,600 mourners filled the Great Commission Baptist Church in South Fort Worth on a warm, early January evening. Near a busy street lined with fast-food restaurants and strip malls, over 2,000 mourners waited in long lines at the church to file past Williams, dressed in a suit and tie in an open casket.
Williams, 24, was shot early New Year’s Day in downtown Denver after attending a party just hours after the Broncos’ final game of the season.
After the memorial service, members of Williams’ family gathered at Rosalind Williams’ Fort Worth house, the home her son bought her with his signing bonus money after the Broncos drafted him in the second round in 2005 out of Oklahoma State.
The mood at the house briefly turned from somber to relieved as word filtered from the Denver Police Department that a suspect was in custody. Family members were attempting to get a television feed from Denver on Friday night to watch news of the arrest.
“This would be a good end to the night,” Williams’ agent Jeff Griffin said from the home.
Before the memorial, a man on horseback trotted past the church, waving a Broncos flag. Several mourners wore Williams’ No. 27 Broncos jersey. Others had custom-made shirts honoring the cornerback.
Williams’ 4-year-old daughter Jaelyn wore a shirt that read “I love you, Daddy” on the back. About 200 family members and extended family sat in the middle of the church. One young man had his hair done in the frohawk hairdo Williams sported twice this season at games.
About 25 mourners spoke, including Anthony Criss, Williams’ football coach at O.D. Wyatt High School. Several of Williams’ youth coaches and former high school teammates and a cousin spoke.
One former high school rival said Williams “carried Fort Worth on his back.” Another called Williams “our superstar.” A friend said: “We were the same age, but he was my role model. I’ve been crying all week.”
Several Dallas-area radio stations were urging listeners to pay their respects. More than 5,000 people are expected to attend Saturday’s funeral service; the church holds about 3,000. The Broncos, along with spouses and employees, are flying to Dallas Saturday morning. Several of Williams’ college teammates and coaches are expected to attend, as is NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and NFL Players Association executive director Gene Upshaw.
Staff writer Bill Williamsoncan be reached at 303-954-1262 or bwilliamson@denverpost.com.
