SUMTER COUNTY, S.C. — Funeral services were held today for Sumter County Sheriff's Deputy Andrew Gillette.
At Sumter Cemetery, one last call for Cpl. Andrew Gillette went unanswered. The fallen officer was laid to rest surrounded by family, friends and a very supportive community.
Corporal Gillette, 37, was shot and killed Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2020, while attempting to serve an eviction notice at a home on the 3100 block of Thomas Sumter Highway.
Cpl. Gillette retired from the US Air Force after a 12-year career, coming to Shaw Air Force base on assignment. He had been at the Sumter County Sheriff's Office since 2013, joining the Warrants Division in 2018.
Cpl. Gillette was laid to rest Sunday after a memorial service honoring his life.
Sumter Co. Sheriff Anthony Dennis addressed the crowd saying, "Many people will call Cpl Gillette a hero because of how he died. But I want to tell you about Cpl Gillette- yes, he was indeed a hero but not only because of how he died, but because of how he lived."
Cpl. Gillette's middle brother also spoke and said they were just recently getting to know each other as adults when his life was cut short, "I've been trying ot make sense of all of this but one of the worst parts is there's no sense to be made in any of it." "I'm sorry we'll never get the chance to finish what we started. But I promise you I'll look after your family. I love you. I miss you. Rest easy, they're in good hands."
A quartet of women sang Amazing Grace while Chief Deputy Hampton Gardner read the poem, "The Final Inspection."
Cpl. Gillette is survived by his wife Marie and 11-year-old son John Curtis.
Gillette had a love of trains - and as his wife was handed the American flag at his burial, the sound of an engine could be heard in the background.
