Page 42 - Spelman50thReunionBook

family and dignitaries arrived with the funeral memories of this historic, once in a lifetime

cortège after the private family funeral at Ebenezer experience.
Baptist that morning. We arrived early Tuesday

morning for our final instructions and realized
people had camped out on the Quadrangle

overnight and were everywhere, including in the
trees. We secured the area as instructed but after

hours of waiting folks decided they wanted to sit in
the VIP seats and simply pushed us aside and sat

down. It took the Morehouse Police and SCLC to
move them just in time for the arrival of the family

and dignitaries. Dr. Mays gave the eulogy and
Mahalia Jackson sang but I remember little else.
There were more people than I had ever seen in

one place, it was shoulder to shoulder everywhere,
a sea of faces. Even so, there was quiet reverence,

no violence and no fear. My final memories are of
King’s interment at South View Cemetery, Atlanta'

oldest Black cemetery chartered in 1866 and my
ancestral cemetery. King’s parents were buried

there. Again, the crowd was enormous as he was
laid to rest amid mountains of flowers of every hue.

After the clergy and family left, within minutes the
florals were stripped clean by those wanting a

memento to treasure forever. I am grateful I was
able to participate and will cherish forever my