Hundreds pay respects to slain aid worker

CLEVELAND, Tenn. -- Although the deaths of Michael Jackson and Farrah Fawcett dominated much of the news last week, Allan Lockerman was focused on another passing.

Dr. Lockerman, co-pastor at First Baptist Church, says he didn't know those celebrities, but he did know Christopher Leggett.

"There is a difference between a life that makes a noise and a life that makes a difference," he said.

Dr. Lockerman was one of hundreds who filled First Baptist's sanctuary Tuesday, attending the funeral of Mr. Leggett, a humanitarian aid worker from Cleveland who was attacked and killed by two men on June 23 in the West African nation of Mauritania.

Mr. Leggett, 39, his wife Jackie, and their four children, ages 15, 13, 12 and 8, worked and lived in Mauritania for seven years. A group called al-Qaida of the Islamic Maghreb issued a statement claiming responsibility for the deaths, according to an Arab satellite television network.

For an hour before Tuesday's service began, a long line of people passed Mr. Leggett's coffin and spoke to his family.

The family issued a written statement, thanking people for their care and concern and for an outpouring of sympathy from the United States and other countries.

"Our family was energized during every minute of the five hours of visitation by the prayers of thousands of people from around the world," the statement said. "It is wonderful to experience the fact that by the grace and power of God, one man touched the lives of thousands of people."

Mr. Leggett worked for a humanitarian aid agency helping Mauritania's poor and securing microloans for start-up businesses. He also taught computer science and languages.

"He was a great representative of this community and a great citizen of this country," said the Rev. Jim Gibson, one of the speakers.

Mr. Gibson also read the family's statement, which said they "have forgiven the individuals who have done this terrible act." But they asked also that justice be served.

David Souther, a friend of Mr. Leggett, "wherever he was, he loved his neighbors as himself."

Mr. Leggett was the son of Jay and Linda Leggett of Cleveland. A 1986 Cleveland High School graduate, he attended Cleveland State Community College and graduated from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga in 1990.