The funeral for San Jacinto County Sheriff James Lewis Walters was held on Jan. 11 at First Baptist Church in Shepherd.

Hundreds of friends, family and law enforcement officials from the county and surrounding areas attended. Law enforcement officials came from areas such as Huntsville, Polk County, Montgomery County and Fort Bend County.

Walters had been battling cancer for several months and died at approximately 3 a.m. on Jan. 9. He was 66 years old.

Walters was previously the only Republican official elected in the county. He won a second term in November 2012 and was followed by several more Republican colleagues.

He served in the Harris County Sheriff's Office for 24 years and was a pastor for 15 years before he became sheriff.