By Rita McInerney

Grief preceded Christmas joy on Christmas Eve at St. Pius X Church in Conyers. It was expressed in the morning during a memorial service for Atlanta police Officer Niles Johantgen, slain Dec. 21 while on his beat at an Atlanta housing project.

Hundreds of police men and women from Atlanta and across Georgia were joined in mourning a slain comrade by state, city and county dignitaries.

Father John Walsh, pastor, presided at the Christmas eve service and also at the Christian wake service held Monday night at a funeral home. Gwen Johantgen, the officer’s wife, is a Catholic. The couple was married in a Catholic church, according to Father Walsh. There are two young sons, Justin, 7, and Mitchell, four months.

During the wake service attended by family, friends and some police men and women, Father Walsh took as his Scripture reading Matthew, Chapter 25, on the Last Judgment. At the memorial service the next morning he based his homily on John, Chapter 14: “Do not let your hearts be troubled…” Sorrow over the senseless shooting down of the police officer was audible in the crowded church as Officer Johantgen was eulogized by Mayor Maynard Jackson and Police Chief Eldrin Bell. It spilled over as Bell presented Johantgen’s badge, Number 4026, to his wife as she sat in the front pew.

The officer’s cap was place on top of the American flag that draped the coffin before the altar. Behind the coffin could be glimpsed the Nativity scene already in place for the children’s Mass.

Along with several hundred people packed into the church for the service, an overflow crowd viewed the service in the adjoining church hall via a closed circuit television set up, Father Walsh said, after Chief Bell advised him of the expected turnout.

Rosemarie Zivic, parish organist, and her husband, Richard Zivic, choir director, provided music for the service. Hymns included Amazing Grace, The Lord Is My Shepherd, On Eagle’s Wings, and How Great Thou Art.

A reception for family, friends and the many police personnel in attendance was provided by women of the parish.