Luminary Memorial Service for ACC Police Officer Buddy Christian Set for March 22

It was a crime that has continued to reverberate through the Athens community: an ex-con allegedly shot one officer at point blank range and then shot and killed another as he ran from the scene.

The dead officer was 33-yer-old Elmer "Buddy" Christian--a kind man with a loving wife and young family, who thought about becoming a chaplin and who tried to help everyone. He was shot in 2011; the man who confessed to shooting him hasn't yet been tried, though he has been in court many times.

Buddy's family has moved into their dream home in Madison County. His wife has continued to work at the UGA Vet School. His children are growing taller.

On Friday, there will be a luminary memorial service rom 5:30 to 7:30pm for Officer Christian at Evergreen Memorial Park on Atlanta Highway, where he is buried. The public is invited to light a luminary in his honor.

You can reserve your luminary in advance at Evergreen (Monday to Friday, 9pm to 5pm) or online at www.buddychristianfoundation.org.

You may be interested in reading:

Hull Minister Remembers Buddy Christian

Hundreds Gather to Memorialize Officer Buddy Christian

Photo gallery: Buddy Christian Funeral

Jamie Hood Indicted on Two Murder Counts

Gravestone Marker in Place For Fallen Athens-Clarke County Police Officer

Gray Day for Final Farewell