Saturday morning, the funeral service for police Sergeant Billy Randolph, a 29-year veteran of the Fort Worth Police Department and United States Air Force veteran, was held at the Christ Chapel Bible Church in Fort Worth.
As reported previously by The Dallas Express, Randolph was fatally hit on August 12 while helping at the site of a severe 18-wheeler collision. Randolph was struck and killed by a vehicle traveling in the wrong direction on an Interstate 35W off-ramp.
The driver of the vehicle, 25-year-old De Aujalae Evans, reportedly told police she had consumed 10 shots before getting behind the wheel, according to an arrest warrant affidavit, per DX.
Fort Worth Police Chief Neil Noakes, Mayor Mattie Parker, and Randolph’s family and colleagues spoke about Randolph’s impact, personally and professionally.
“He was always looking for a way to make the world a better place,” said his brother, Matt Randolph, per Fox 4 KDFW. “He loved life.”
Prior to the funeral, officers from various police departments in the region led a procession from the Bob Bolen Public Safety Complex to the church, reported Fox 4.
Evans is currently detained at the Tarrant County jail on a bond of $750,000 as she is charged with intoxication manslaughter, causing the death of a police officer. Evans was already on six years of probation after pleading guilty to shooting a woman in 2023.
On August 14, a candlelight vigil was organized to honor Randolph on what would have been his 57th birthday. Friends, family, and community members gathered to pay their respects and celebrate his life.
“He would never ask his team to do something he wouldn’t do. They would do the same for him. That’s why he’s a hero,” said Noakes of Randolph at the vigil, per Fox 4.
Randolph is survived by his wife, Lisa, and their daughter, Kayla.
“Billy Randolph was more than just a public servant; he was a husband, son, brother, father, G-Pa, and friend whose love and loyalty were felt by all who knew him. For 35 years, he was the beloved husband of Lisa Randolph, his partner, and the love of his life. Together, they built a life filled with love, laughter, and memories that will be cherished forever,” Randolph’s obituary reads.
“As a father, Billy Randolph was devoted to his two amazing children, Kayla Ann Randolph Bates, who survives him, and Garrett Lee Randolph, who preceded him in death. His love and pride for his children were boundless, and his legacy lives on in [the] strength and resilience of his daughter, Kayla,” continued his obituary.