Monty Williams delivers inspiring message at wife's memorial service
Monty Williams shows forgiveness and compassion for driver that killed his wife.
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2 min read
The wife of Oklahoma City Thunder assistant coach Monty Williams, Ingrid Williams, tragically died in a car accident on Feb. 10.
The death shocked the NBA world as Williams, who coached the New Orleans Pelicans for five years before joining the Thunder, is a beloved person around the league. Which is why on Thursday at Ingrid Williams' memorial service, 900 people attended what the family called a Celebration of Life.
From the Thunder:
On Thursday afternoon, an estimated 900 people attended the Celebration of Life for Ingrid Williams, late wife of Thunder assistant coach Monty Williams.The entire Thunder organization - players, coaches and staff - were in attendance at Crossings Community Church in Oklahoma City for the service. Ingrid is survived by her husband, her five children, three siblings and her parents.
A large contingent of NBA players, coaches and staff also attended the service. It included Greg Popovich, Doc Rivers, Alvin Gentry, Kiki Vandeweghe, Jerry Colangelo, Jeff Van Gundy, Tom Thibodeau, David West, Anthony Davis, Ryan Anderson, Chris Paul, Tim Duncan and many others from the NBA family who traveled to Oklahoma City to support Coach Williams and his family.
Williams gave a eulogy at the service and delivered a very powerful and moving message that showed forgiveness and compassion for the driver who crashed into his wife.
I want to close with this, and I think it’s the most important thing we need to understand. Everyone is praying for me and my family, which is right, but let us not forget that there were two people in this situation. And that family needs prayer as well, and we have no ill will towards that family.
In my house, we have a sign that says, "As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." We cannot serve the Lord if we don’t have a heart of forgiveness. That family didn’t wake up wanting to hurt my wife. Life is hard. It is very hard, and that was tough, but we hold no ill will toward the Donaldson family. And we, as a group, brothers united in unity, should be praying for that family, because they grieve as well. So let’s not lose sight of what’s important.
Truly inspring words by Williams.
According to the Thunder, Williams and his family have asked that instead of flowers, donations be made to FaithWorks of the Inner City, a charitable organization in Oklahoma City that was "very important" to Ingrid Williams.
