Funeral for Ellicott City flooding victim Eddison Hermond to be held Thursday

A funeral will be held on Thursday for Staff Sergeant Eddison Hermond, who passed away last week after the horrendous flooding in Ellicott City.

The 39-year-old from Severn died after being swept away in the flooded waters last Sunday. Hermond, a sergeant in the Maryland National Guard and an Air Force veteran, was making a heroic attempted to save a woman and her cat when he was caught up in the waters near La Palapa Grill.

Hermond's friend, Joseph Lopez was with Hermond during the flooding and said Hermond's willingness to help someone else without regard for himself did not surprise anyone who knows him.

"He'd do that for anyone. He's done so much for me in my life and that's just him. He served in two branches. He was an Air Force guy, he was an Army guy. Just really an amazing guy," Lopez said.

The funeral will be held at The Church at Severn Run, 8187 Telegraph Road in Severn, Maryland.

A visitation will be held from 10 to 10:30 a.m., with the funeral service directly after at the church.

Bailey Funeral Home says Staff Sergeant Eddison is survived by his parents, Eddison A. Hermond, Sr. and Cleola Thompson; as well as a son Jayden Cornell Jenkins and sister Alicia Joeselle Armstrong.

Hermond will be interred with military honors at Maryland Veterans Cemetery at 1122 Sunrise Beach Rd, Crownsville, MD 21032.

Hermond's National Guard unit stood on the side of the road last week and saluted their friend and colleague as his body passed through Ellicott City and was being taken to the medical's examiner's office.

According to Hermond's best friend, his unit members were the ones who located him on Tuesday after going on a search of their own.

Maryland Governor Larry Hogan ordered Maryland flags to fly at half-staff in honor of Hermond.

"His service to our country, state, and local community will not soon be forgotten. Flags will return to full-staff sunset of the day he is laid to rest."

A GoFundMe page has been created to raise money in support of his family.