A day after an emotional farewell to Henry “Hank” Aaron, friends and family gathered again Wednesday to say goodbye to the baseball legend.
The funeral for Aaron was held at Friendship Baptist Church in Atlanta. Aaron died Friday at his Atlanta home. He was 86.
Three of Aaron’s grandchildren were among those who spoke during the funeral. Former President Bill Clinton and former Major League Baseball commissioner Bud Selig also gave remarks.
The private funeral was live-streamed.
Credit: DAVID TULIS / AJC
Credit: DAVID TULIS / AJC
Entombment will follow at South-View Cemetery in southeast Atlanta.
On Tuesday, a memorial service was held at Truist Park. Former Braves players, friends and current manager Brian Snitker shared their memories of Aaron. Several video tributes were also broadcast.
At the end of Tuesday’s service, team chairman Terry McGuirk announced the Braves will donate $1 million to launch the “Henry Louis Aaron Fund” aimed at increasing minority participation in baseball on and off the field. In addition, MLB and the Players Association will donate $500,000 apiece to the fund, raising its total to $2 million.
3:46 p.m.: The service has concluded. “When the Saints go marching in,” was played while those attending left the church.
3:33 p.m.: “For 47 years, Henry and I walked this journey together, a journey that ended on Friday morning when we were not able to awaken him,” Aaron’s widow, Billye, said. “He had slept into eternity.”
Billye Aaron thanked those attending and speaking at the funeral.
“Thank you all for participating in this homecoming for Henry,” she said. “It means so much to us.”
3:13 p.m.: The Reverend Dr. William V. Guy delivered the eulogy for Aaron.
“In his prosperity, he never forgot the poverty of his youth,” Guy said.
Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms was also in attendance.
2:51 p.m.: President Bill Clinton said we never die if the spirit we have lives on through others. Clinton recalled his family getting television in time for the 1957 baseball season.
When Aaron retired, he chased other dreams and reached those, too, Clinton said. Clinton said he met Aaron in 1992 when he ran for president.
“I wasn’t with Hank Aaron before I thought to myself, ‘I’m gonna love this guy for the rest of my life,’” Clinton said.
Clinton attended 65th and 75th birthday celebrations for Aaron. The Clintons also hosted Aaron and his wife at the White House.
“His whole life was a home run, and now he has rounded the bases.”
2:50 p.m.: Former President Jimmy Carter said he Aaron were very close friends in a short videotaped message. Carter said he was in the stadium to see Aaron’s historic home run.
2:36 p.m.: “He was and is the man,” Andrew Young, former ambassador to the United Nations said. “And he did that without trying.”
Young said Aaron was the “father” to many throughout the Braves organization.
2:29 p.m.: Soloist Rodrick Dixon performed “The Impossible Dream” from the play “Man of La Mancha.”
2:22 p.m.: Terry McGuirk, Atlanta Braves chairman, said Aaron wouldn’t have wanted all of the attention from those at the funeral. But Aaron deserved it.
McGuirk said he often traveled to spring training together and had a tradition of having dinner together.
“It will be very difficult this year without my friend. I and the entire organization will miss him greatly.”
2:12 p.m.: Allan Tanenbaum, an attorney and secretary for the Hank Aaron Chasing the Dream Foundation, said the organization has helped countless children reach their goals and attend college.
“For Henry, it was always about others, not himself,” Tanenbaum said.
A woman who called herself a former “dream catcher,” said Aaron opened countless doors for her after she met him as a 12-year-old girl.
2:08 p.m.: “We have lost and heaven has gained one of the very best that our world contained,” Tom Johnson, former president of CNN, said in a taped message.
2:04 p.m.: Aaron’s efforts on the field weren’t only about starting down Babe Ruth, sportscaster Bob Costas said in a video message. Aaron also had to deal with the ugliness of America in the form of racism.
“Rest in peace, Mr. Aaron. It has been an honor to know you.”
2 p.m.: Atlanta Braves singer and Morehouse assistant professor Timothy Miller performed “If I Can Help Somebody.”
1:55 p.m.: Dr. Valerie Montgomery Rice, president and dean of the Morehouse School of Medicine, called Aaron a stellar citizen who was generous with his “time, talent and treasure.”
“He used his gift to make a living,” Rice said. “And he used the proceeds of that gift to make a life.”
1:45 p.m.: Bud Selig, former major league baseball commissioner, said one of his fondest memories was watching Aaron hit a home run on Sept. 23, 1957, to send the Braves to the World Series. Selig remembered watching as Aaron’s teammates carry him off the field during the celebration.
Selig said Aaron was a man of grace and tolerance.
“We’ll always be grateful to you for showing all of us how to chase our dreams.”
1:37 p.m.: Tom Morehead, former president and CEO of Sterling Motorcars, said Aaron was the first person of color to own a luxury car dealership.
1:33 p.m.: Soloist Jeanné Brown performed “Give Me Jesus.”
1:31 p.m.: “I am hoping some day that some kid, black or white, hits more home runs than myself. Whoever it shall be, I will be pulling for them.” Aaron’s grandson Raynal Aaron shared four quotes from his grandfather.
1:27 p.m.: Aaron’s grandson, Victor Aaron Haydel read a passage from the Bible. His granddaughter, Emily Haydel, also read scripture.
1:16 p.m.: Nicole Heaston and the Purple Robe Song Series Presents Lift Every Voice and Sing, the opening hymn for the service.
1:15 p.m.: Dr. Richard Wills, the pastor of Friendship Baptist Church, welcomed those attending the funeral.
1 p.m.: Those attending Aaron’s funeral filed into the sanctuary. Aaron’s closed casket was adorned with beautiful white flowers as the service began.
About the Author
