AMERICANS SAY GOODBYE TO BILLY GRAHAM
CHARLOTTE: The late Reverend Billy Graham, spearhead of an evangelical Christian movement that touched millions worldwide and who provided spiritual counsel to several United States presidents, returned for good to his North Carolina home on Friday.
President Donald Trump and Vice-President Mike Pence attended the 90-minute funeral along with 2,000 mourners, who gathered to say goodbye to the man who became known as “America’s pastor”.
The ceremony took place at the Billy Graham Library on the family’s property in Charlotte, under a broad white tent that harkens back to the “canvas cathedral” in 1949 that helped propel Graham to prominence.
“My father’s greatest longing has been granted. He’s in the presence of God,” said son Franklin Graham, one of several relatives to speak.
Trump, who attended with First Lady Melania Trump, did not address the gathering, but he sang along to hymns, including To God Be The Glory.
He was the only one of six living presidents to attend the ceremony, although all of them issued statements honouring the late reverend.
As the funeral began, Graham’s casket — a simple but elegant plywood pine coffin crafted by inmates at a Louisiana prison — was carried by pallbearers through the library’s crossshaped glass entryway and out to the tent, which was buffeted by strong winds.
Graham, who preached in person to more than 200 million people in 85 countries over a decadeslong career, and millions more through the power of television, died last week at age 99, leaving a Christian evangelist movement without its best known champion of modern times.
He was bestowed the rare tribute of laying in honour for two days this week in the US Capitol’s Rotunda.