Greater Metro

Farewell Officer Lang

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Memphis Police Officer Martoiya Lang worked hard to be the best at what she did, said Dr. Perry C. Little, who delivered her eulogy at Hope Presbyterian Church on Friday.

"She studied hard to make sure that she perfected her gift. She loved life. She loved serving others," said Little, pastor of Gateway Church of God in Christ.

Lang, 32, was slain last Friday, Dec. 14, while serving a search warrant, along with her partner, who was wounded but survived the deadly encounter.

Lang, who leaves four children, was an individual who wanted to do what was best for everyone, and most certainly for her family, said Little.

"She loved her children and tried with all that was within her to give them her best to make sure that they had a comfortable life," said Little, adding, "certainly she loved the City of Memphis."

She loved Memphis so much that she wanted to become a servant of the city, an officer of the law, Little said. "Certainly she was a friend of Memphis and she saw Memphis as her friend."

Little made reference to Aristotle's definition of friend – "one would willingly die for you." Jesus, he said, put it this way. "Greater has no man, no woman than this: that a man lay down his life for his friend..."

In his remarks, Mayor AC Wharton Jr. said Lang, "served with bravery and integrity.... And she will never be forgotten."

Since Lang's fatal shooting a week ago, Memphians from myriad walks of life have pulled together to mourn the loss of Lang and to raise support for her family. That includes the Rev. Keith Norman and the members of First Baptist Broad, who set up accounts for the family, and the Tillman Precinct officers, who turned their annual Christmas party at Newby's into a fundraiser for Lang's children.

Campaigns such as "We Bleed Blue" were started by public officials and female leadership; community funds were enacted at local banks such as Suntrust, Regions and Bank of Bartlett. Media outlets got involved, including WMC-TV, which raised funds outside the station on Union Avenue. Officers asked local citizens to give what they could.

Lang was buried at Southwoods Memorial Park Cemetery.

(Latrivia Nelson contributed to this report)