Family and friends packed Calvary Assembly of God in Midland Tuesday to say goodbye to Azaria Williams, a little girl who loved her daddy’s fried chicken, the Dallas Cowboys, parties and dancing.
The 11-year-old died in a mobile home fire in West Odessa Aug. 13.
Many in the crowd wore brightly colored T-shirts emblazoned with images of Azaria, who was getting ready to enter Ector Middle School after graduating from Downing Elementary.
Throughout the hour-long life celebration service, Pastor Brad Smith spoke of Azaria’s love of life despite the challenges she faced with Down Syndrome, the need to trust in Jesus’ love for us and how people should emulate Azaria.
Although some people may want to place blame for Azaria’s death, Smith told the crowd they should turn to Jesus.
“You can depend on Jesus to get you through this time, but also to get you across the finish line of life,” he said.
Azaria, who was born in Odessa, was full of life, loved her family and a lot of other special people in her life, including two bus drivers, Diane Long and Adelia Lopez, Smith said.
“Even though her life on this Earth was short, Azaria lived her life to the fullest and she enjoyed life whether in pain or whether everything in life seemed to be going great for her,” Smith said.
She wasn’t shy about hassling people who didn’t share her love of the Cowboys, loved running her hands through her boy cousins’ hair and the TV show iCarly.
Smith earned some laughs when he told the group Azaria developed a knack for “playing her aunts” against her mom in order to get her favorite foods, “even if it meant hiding out in the restroom with some food.”
He described Azaria as a child with “great joy and great love.”
“I think today we could all learn from her as we celebrate her life. You go through life for 11 years or however long, you’ve got pain in your body and you just got stuff going on, don’t lose your joy,” Smith said. “One of the greatest attributes we can possess is to have joy.”
Although she probably never dreamed it would be talked about at her funeral, Smith said Azaria often told people she was going to “win this race” and he’s convinced she did.
“I’m very, very confident that she’s in heaven. She hasn’t walked in awhile, but let me tell you something, she isn’t walking today. She’s running. She’s running those streets of gold. Where the streets are paved with gold, she’s not just walking there, she’s running. She loved to dance on this earth but I’ll tell you what, today, she’s dancing on the streets. She’s entered into a place called heaven, a place I long to go, a place with no more sorrow, no more death, no more sin, no more heartache or pain and you can go there as well,” Smith said.
Smith told the crowd Azaria would not want them to mourn for her, she’d just want them to win their race, too and join her.
Ector County Sheriff Mike Griffis, who worked with Azaria’s grandfather and currently works with her aunt, described the family as “good people.” No child born into their family could be loved more, he said.
People with Down Syndrome, like Azaria and like his 40-year-old niece, are the most precious people who live amongst us, Griffis said.
“They love unconditionally. They are the angels among us. If everybody could love like Down Syndrome people, what a world we would live in. I wouldn’t even have a job because they’re so pure, sweet, kind-hearted,” Griffis said.
Following the service at the church, the crowd made their way to American Heritage Cemetery.
Azaria is survived by her father and mother, Christopher Andrew and Misty Michelle Williams; seven siblings, Amaya Williams, Christopher Andrew Williams Jr., Aryiah Williams, Shawn Perkins (Jessica), Robert Zamora, Tristian Collins (Sarah Lopez), and Jayvon Landerth; and her Biological Mother, Amber Landerth as well as a host of other loving family members.
