JSO inviting law enforcement, firefighters, the public to pay respects to Lt. Chris Cunningham

Jacksonville, FL — The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office is inviting fellow law enforcement, firefighters, and the public to come pay their respects on Friday to JSO Lieutenant Chris Cunningham, who passed away from a COVID-related illness.

JSO says Cunningham will be moved from the Medical Examiner’s Office to Hardage-Giddens Funeral Home on Friday at 1:00 p.m, with a police escort between the two locations. JSO personnel have been asked to line the route, with JFRD also asked to participate.

The route will involve heading south on Jefferson Street from 8th Street, up to and over to Riverside Avenue. We’re told that the escort will then continue on Riverside Avenue, turn right onto Edison Avenue, until reaching the funeral home on Park Street.

If you want to pay your respects, JSO says a safe place to do so would be on the sidewalks on Jefferson Street in the downtown area or on Riverside Avenue, between Jackson Street and Forest Street on the sidewalks.

Cunningham served the Jacksonville community for more than 20 years with JSO and was a retired Navy veteran.

Cunningham’s wife, Gwen Cunningham, spoke to our partner Action News Jax, saying she wants to live in a way that makes him proud.

"It's just really devastating to me. I can't even really express it. I just want to live up to the way Chris saw me," says Gwen Cunningham.

She tells Action News Jax that she's thankful for the time they had together.

Cunningham was 48-years-old and leaves behind five children.

Cox Media Group