OKLAHOMA CITY, Ok - Former Pelicans head coach Monty Williams gave a moving eulogy at the funeral of his wife Ingrid Thursday.
Williams lost his wife and the mother of their five children in a car accident last week. Ingrid Williams was killed when her car collided with another vehicle that had crossed the center lane, impacting hers.
Monty Williams, who now is an assistant coach with the Oklahoma City Thunder, is a deeply religious man, and he cited Bible verses often in his 7-minute tribute to his late wife. But Williams perhaps moved the audience, which reportedly included members of the Thunder and Pelicans organizations, along with other NBA players and coaches, most, when he offered forgiveness to the family involved in the crash.
"Everybody's praying for my family, which is right," he said. "But let us not forget there were two people in this situation and that family needs prayer as well. We have no ill will towards that family. In my house we have a sign that says 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 - very hard. That was tough. But, we hold no ill will towards the Donaldson family and we, as a group, brothers united in unity, should be praying for that family, because they are grieving as well."
