Social media continued paying tribute to legendary Georgia congressman and civil rights giant John Lewis on Thursday, the end of a six-day celebration of his legacy in Georgia, Alabama and Washington.
Farewell. Hero. Patriot. Activist. Warrior. Man of Faith. Leader. Founding Father of American Democracy. #JohnLewis pic.twitter.com/P7ISbdgVbf
— Sherrilyn Ifill (@Sifill_LDF) July 30, 2020
After stops in Troy, Alabama, Selma, Alabama, and Washington, D.C., John Lewis’ body arrived Wednesday in Atlanta.
»COMPLETE COVERAGE: John Lewis
Three former presidents — Bill Clinton, George W. Bush and Barack Obama — as well as the most powerful woman in Congress, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, were set to memorialize Lewis at Ebenezer Baptist Church.
A sea of people from across metro#atlanta gather outside @ebenezer_atl to watch the funeral service for Congressman #johnlewis @cbs46 pic.twitter.com/WKh6wJSf9A
— Tracye Hutchins (@TracyeHutchins) July 30, 2020
Lewis’ funeral began at 11 a.m. Thursday, when Senior Pastor Rev. Raphael Warnock, a Democratic candidate for one of Georgia’s U.S. Senate seats, welcomed those attending and delivered the opening prayer.
Rev. Dr. Raphael G. Warnock, senior pastor of Ebenezer Baptist Church, evoked Rep. John Lewis' legacy as he opened the late congressman's funeral in Atlanta.
— Paul Cogan (@PaulCogan) July 30, 2020
Warnock urged attendees and the country to keep "fighting together" and "voting together.”
What a line from @BerniceKing, quoting her father Martin Luther King Jr., during a prayer at John Lewis' funeral in Atlanta: "death is not period that ends this great sentence of life, but a comma which punctuates it a lofty and higher significance"
— Wesley (@WesleyLowery) July 30, 2020
12 year old Tybre Faw who befriended #JohnLewis just read Lewis' favorite poem, Invictus. At the end, he said, "John Lewis was my friend ..." And broke down in tears.
— T.J. Holmes (@tjholmes) July 30, 2020
Bush was the first of the nation’s three chief executives to speak.
George Bush’s rebrand has been wild
— philip lewis (@Phil_Lewis_) July 30, 2020
Clinton was next, and he praised Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms for her leadership during the coronavirus pandemic and recent protests over alleged police brutality.
"Madam Mayor, you have faced more than your fair share of challenges in recent months, and you have faced them with candor and dignity and honor."
— Charlotte Clymer 🏳️🌈 (@cmclymer) July 30, 2020
-- former President Bill Clinton to Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms at John Lewis' funeral, greeted with a lot of applause
The lesson our three former Presidents are teaching us right now is that no matter what. No matter what! Even if we may disagree. We may fight. We put America and her heroes first. We come together when we mourn our patriots. We are Americans first! #JohnLewisMemorial #JohnLewis
— Sophia A. Nelson (@IAmSophiaNelson) July 30, 2020
What I love about this #johnlewis funeral is it’s depth and uplift. It’s not just honorific oratory. Ppl are teaching! #JamesLawson
— Jamal Simmons (@JamalSimmons) July 30, 2020
What a powerful and timely message from Rev. Dr. James Lawson 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾 #JohnLewis #GoodTrouble
— theGrio.com (@theGrio) July 30, 2020
Xernona Clayton is living proof that Black don’t crack at almost 90 years old. Enjoying listening to her while watching Rep. John Lewis’ funeral. Both are Atlanta LEGENDS. pic.twitter.com/8OgrODazXi
— Apryl 💕 (@lovely_apryl) July 30, 2020