Quotes from friends and family leaving the private funeral for James Brown in North Augusta, S.C., Friday:

"I was weeping on the inside, but because of the man he taught me to be, I was able to be strong. He taught me to whether the storm and to be a man. ... We had church. We had a hand-clapping, foot-stomping good time giving God the glory for giving us the Godfather."

— Derrick Monk, who sang "God Has Smiled on Me" at the service

"I feel good, just like James Brown."

— family friend Elizabeth Burton of Augusta, asked how she felt at the end of the service

"It's a tough time for our family, [which] greatly appreciates the prayers and support."

— son-in-law, Darren Lumar, husband of Brown's daughter, Yamma

"I'm just holding up. I just want to get off my feet. I want to take care of my son. He's asking what happened and I want to get home and have a talk with him."

— Tomi Rae Hynie, mother of Brown's 5-year-old son, also named James

"Look at this, he's been dead four days and he's still the hardest-working guy in show business. He had two performances this week and he's got one more to go."

— Chicago lawyer Jay B. Ross, who represented Brown for 15 years as an entertainment attorney

"It was very well done. Rev. Sharpton did an immaculate job on the eulogy for Mr. Brown, one of my inspirations."

— entertainer MC Hammer

"It was just fabulous. The thing is, in a white racist unfair system it is hard for a man like him to get his due until he dies. If he was as white as the Beatles or the Rolling Stones, he would be getting way more appreciation now. But they'll learn the truth about how hard it was for him. How he refused to play places, places that refused to let him play at first. He may not have had smarts or intelligence but he had wisdom. I just came to thank him for all that he's done."

— activist and comedian Dick Gregory

“That was a wonderful service about a great man named James Brown. I took him to Africa with me in 1974. He kept it funky. The music Sharpton was eulogizing about was that funky music was the beat that brings all people together from the proletariat to the elitist, from black and white, yellow and brown.”

— boxing promoter Don King

"It was a party. Everybody was in there jumping and singing. It was not a solemn affair but one of rejoicing. It was like he lived. Happy. Nothing bad said, nothing bad uttered, everything joyous. Al Sharpton laid it down like he was putting up a cement wall. Good mortar, good bricks, good everything."

— Jimmy Carter, who photographed Brown for the past 15 years and was the only official photographer inside the private ceremony.

"It took 10 minutes to roll his hair, 10 minutes to dry and he knew how to style it himself, baby. He used to tell me not to give away his hairstyle."

— Mary Holmes, Brown's hairdresser for 25 years

RELATED LINKS:

• Full coverage in accessatlanta.com/music

• Quotes

• Blog: TV honors the Godfather

• Photos: Private service for Brown | Apollo Theater viewing

• Photos: Great moments at the Apollo

• Photos: Through the years

• See & Hear it: His influence in music today

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