Hundreds attend funeral for murdered mom

WARRENSVILLE HEIGHTS, Ohio - The funeral service for Tonya Hunter-Lyons, who was found murdered in Cleveland a week ago Sunday, brought hundreds of people to The Word Church Monday morning in Warrensville Heights.

It was clear that Tonya touched a lot of lives in her 41 years of living.

Tonya was a social worker, marriage counselor and she taught at several local colleges.

"We all fell in love very quickly with that contagious smile," said Cliff Wallace, from Bryant and Stratton college in Cleveland.

Tonya was also a U.S. army veteran.  She received full military honors and an American flag was draped over her casket.  The flag was neatly folded up and handed to Tonya's 4-year-old son, Timothy, during a very moving part of the service.

Prosecutors have said that Timothy appears to be the sole witness to his mother's murder.

Tonya's cousin, Gail Reese, reminded people to focus on the way Tonya lived, not how she died.

"She's now in heaven.  Experiencing no more worries.  No more sorrow.  No more pain.  No more concern about right or wrong decisions," Reese said.

Tonya's Husband, Maurice Lyons, 38, is charged with aggravated murder and domestic violence.

He's accused of stabbing Tonya 17 times and leaving her body in her garage behind a Cleveland home.