Hundreds Attend Visitation for Trooper Ed Lowry

Highway Patrolman Ed Lowry, and Cumberland County Deputy David Hathcockwere shot to death Tuesday. The visitation for Trooper Lowry took placeThursday night at the Cumberland County Civic Center where the outpouringof grief was huge.

It's a time of pain and mourning for the wife and family of state trooperEd Lowry. But, they are not alone in their sorrow. There was an outpouringof support from the community, state, even the country. Hundreds of peoplewere in line minutes after the visitation began.

Trooper J.D. King, NC Highway Patrol, said he lost a great friend.

There was also a visitation for Cumberland County Sheriff's DeputyDavid Hathcock. At his family's request, WRAL did not stop by, butRick Gallspoke with a colleague of Hathcock's who said the deputy was a family man.

On Friday, the funeral procession for Lowry will travel on Highway 301,down Owen Drive, and on to Raeford Road. The highway patrolman will belaid to rest at the Cumberland Memorial Cemetery.

The procession for Deputy Hathcock will head south on Highway 301, thenexiting onto Highway 59, which becomes South Main Street in Hope Mills.The officer will be buried in the Gilmont Cemetery.

Nine schools in the Hope Mills area will send students home early. Theyare Southview High, Southview Middle, Hope Mills Middle, Rockfish,C. Wayne Collier, Honeycutt, Cashwell, Baldwin and Gray's Creek elementaryschools.

Sara Piland, Cumberland County Schools, said students are getting outearly to cooperate with officials.

Both funeral services will be held at the Cumberland County Civic CenterFriday. The service for Trooper Lowry will began at 11 a.m. The one forDeputy Hathcock will start at 2 p.m. Hundreds of people are expected toattend both ceremonies.