Tears, laughter and deep gratitude to God as Billy Graham is laid to rest
by Mark Woods, Christian Today.
The funeral service of Rev Billy Graham began with a dignified procession in which his coffin, a pine plywood casket made by inmates at the Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola, was brought into the tent in the grounds of his library in Charlotte.
The invitation-only crowd of around 2,000 people included US president Donald Trump and his vice-president Mike Pence.
Musicians included Linda McCrary-Fisher, Michael W Smith and the Gaither Vocal Band, all friends who sang for Graham at his home in recent years.
Welcoming the congregation, Rev David Bruce read the ringing words from Scripture, ‘I know that my Redeemer liveth.’ Billy Graham’s pastor Rev Donald Wilton spoke of the importance of the Bible to Graham and read Ephesians 2: 4-9, which speaks of the ‘God, who is rich in mercy’ and made us alive with Christ.
The congregation sang ‘All hail the power of Jesus’ name’.
Tributes were paid by Graham’s family, beginning with his surviving sister, Jean Graham Ford, who spoke of how much she loved her brother. ‘I was reminded when I heard my brother died of the hymn we used to sing, heaven came down and filled my soul with glory. One day heaven will come down and take me,’ she said.
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