This story was posted on: 9:57 a.m., Friday, Jan. 13, 2017.
A viewing was held for Deputy First Class Norman Lewis. He is one of the two law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty during the manhunt for Markeith Loyd.
Lewis died after a traffic crash while responding to the shooting of Master Sgt. Debra Clayton.
- Viewing for Deputy First Class Norman Lewis held Thursday in Orlando
- Lewis died after a traffic crash
- RELATED: Day 5: Lewis' funeral postponed due to family emergency
A procession transported the body of the fallen deputy to First Baptist Church of Orlando on Thursday. Lewis' Family held a private viewing before it was opened to the public to pay their respects.
Frisner Nelson was his college roommate and football teammate at UCF.
“Norm was one of the most beloved persons in the world. I mean I truly do love this guy, and I’m so sad. I’m in disbelief that he actually passed,” Nelson said at the viewing Thursday.
Another person in mourning who attended the visitation, Mary Maxwell, said, "It’s just such a loss, such a hurt. And when you see his mother sitting there, you know, we send our children to protect and take care of us, but we never expect our child to come back in the way he is coming back to her."
The 35-year-old had been with the Orange County Sheriff’s Office since 2005. He was a member of its motors/DUI unit.
Colleagues have said Lewis was a friend to everyone and always had a smile on his face.
“His laugh was infectious, just a kind person and people are drawn to him naturally," Nelson said. "That’s why you hear a lot of people speak and they are like, Norm was their best friend because he made you feel that way."
The funeral for Lewis was rescheduled to Monday, Jan. 16 at Murdock Baptist Church in Port Charlotte. A church service in Orlando will be held Sunday, Jan. 15 at 2:30 p.m. at First Baptist Church of Orlando.