The final call was sounded for slain Detroit police officer Loren Courts

Sunshine burst through the morning clouds on Monday, bringing a bit of brightness to an otherwise dark day for the Detroit Police Department as it laid to rest one of its own, Officer Loren Courts.

Funeral services for the five-year officer, who was ambushed and killed in the line of duty while responding to a call for backup on July 6, were held at Greater Grace Temple and brought huge crowds of mourners. Nearly all of the 4,000 seats in the northwest Detroit megachurch were filled with people from all walks of life: from community members to law enforcement officers from across the country. And among them was a sea of Detroit blue — hundreds of Detroit police officers —and Courts' family, garbed in red and black.

While the scene outside the church was quiet and somber, inside the church there was no shortage of prayers and song. Loved ones mourned Courts, but they also celebrated his life, legacy and sacrifice. The crowd was thankful, often yelling out "thanks to God" and thanks to Courts.

All eyes were on the most important guests, his family, said Bishop Charles Ellis, pastor of Greater Grace Temple, who officiated the memorial shortly before the closing of the casket.

Courts' parents came first to lay their eyes on their youngest son. His dad, Larry Courts, a retired DPD officer who served for over 30 years, dropped his head with a hard shake before reaching the casket. Loren Courts' mother, Lillian Courts, walked alongside her husband with her left hand placed on his back. Other members of the Courts family followed, including Loren's older brother Larry Courts Jr.

Shouts of “Father! Father!" and “Thank you Jesus!” burst from the crowd as the Courts family said their final goodbyes. Gospel hymns were sung.

Next came Loren Courts' in-laws: his wife's mother and grandmother.

And then Loren Courts' wife, Kristine Courts, and the couple's two children. Son Darian Courts, 15, and daughter, Devyn Courts, 9, were slowly escorted to the black casket that held the body of their father.

Darian rested his head on his mother's shoulder as the three of them comforted each other.

Loren Courts' pastor, Bishop Lawrence J. London of New Jerusalem Temple Missionary Baptist Church, said the final blessings over Courts' body before the casket was closed. Kristine stood watching in grief, now with her head on her son's shoulder.

Loren Courts died in the line of duty when he and his partner, Amanda Hudgens, were ambushed on July 6 after responding as backup to a "shots fired" call. Police say he was killed by a bullet fired from a Draco AK-style semiautomatic pistol by 19-year-old Ehmani Davis of Eastpointe. Chief James White said in a press conference he believed the teen wanted to die in a suicide by cop. His family's hearts were ripped apart on that fatal evening, his mother's sister, Lisa Littleton Cox, said.

"It's like a nightmare you can't wake up from," she said while speaking during her nephew's memorial.

Larry Courts Jr. described the relationship the siblings shared as being akin to conjoined twins.

"We were joined at the hip from the time we were kids to now," he said during the service.

Directly after the casket was closed, Bishop Ellis took to the pulpit with his wife, Crisette Ellis, who gave opening remarks.

"We are here to celebrate the life of a hero," the first lady of Greater Grace said during her welcome message to attendees.

Ellis returned to the podium following with the order of service and introduced the first musical performance, Yolanda L. Day singing  "Safe In his Arms" by Vickie Winans.

Members of the audience, including law enforcement, raised their hands, waving them in the air as a sign of praise and worship.

Loren Courts' cousin, Crystal Smith, read his obituary, accompanied by sign language interpreters.

Attending the service were Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, City Council President Mary Sheffield, Mayor Mike Duggan and other dignitaries.

In his remarks, Detroit Police Chief James White described an officer's day as "not knowing if after you leave home, you don't know if you are going to make it back."

"It breaks your heart to know ...," he paused to gather his emotions, then continued, "... to know it didn’t go as planned that day," he said of //Courts.

Before the eulogy, Ellis told Loren Courts' family: "The hurt may not ever go away, but God will help you get through the hurt."

Bishop London compared the heroic act of Courts' partner, covering Loren Courts' mortally wounded body with her own as the gunman approached them still firing, with how Christians cover themselves in the blood of Christ and how that can save a person's life. Hudgens sat in the crowded church with a Batman pin on her tie, in remembrance of her partner.

Ellis closed the service by giving thanks and requesting silence, for the Detroit Police Department's solemn ritual for a fallen officer.

A sound rang twice. And then the words: "All units standby, unless you have a priority." The words repeated, followed with a call for badge #611 — Loren Courts' badge number — and no response.

Jasmin Barmore is born and raised in the city of Detroit. She covers the city's neighborhoods and communities using her passion as her drive to give the voiceless a voice. You can reach her at jmbarmore@freepress.com or by sending her a message on Instagram or Twitter at @bjasminmare. 

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Officer Loren Courts laid to rest as community pay respects