Mourners Say Final Farewell As Anderson Soldier Laid To Rest

A young hero is laid to rest on Saturday.  Friends and family said a final goodbye to Staff Sergeant Raphael Futrell at Civic Center of Anderson. 

Futrell was serving as an explosive detector dog handler in Iraq.  He died in a
non-combat related incident early this month.

Family friends say the 26 year old died doing what he loved.  “It was going to be a career for him like his brother and grandfather it was going to be a career for him,“  Veronica Beaty said.  “He was a pleasant soul,” she said.

Futrell leaves a young son. 

He was buried at New Light Cemetery which is only a few miles from where he graduated at Pendleton High School.

The military is still investigating the cause of his death.