Funeral service underway in Houston for George Floyd, whose death rocked the world

A horse-drawn carriage will transport the remains of George Floyd to his gravesite Tuesday following a private funeral in Houston, the final episode in a series of memorials celebrating the life of a man whose death has shaken the world.

About 500 friends, family, political leaders and entertainers streamed into The Fountain of Praise church for what co-pastor Mia Wright called, “a homegoing celebration of brother George Floyd’s life.” Invited guests included Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner, Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, Rep. Al Green and rap stars Paul Wall and Slim Thug.

“If he was told he would have to sacrifice his life to bring the world together, knowing him, I know he would have,” Floyd’s brother Rodney said before the service began.

More than 6,000 people lined up in blazing heat to pay their respects at Floyd’s viewing Monday. The funeral is being livestreamed from the church in Houston, Floyd’s hometown. Activist Al Sharpton anchors a lineup of speakers that includes civil rights leaders and family members.

Before they spoke in front of an audience mostly outfitted with masks — some of them bearing Floyd’s resemblance — gospel singer Dray Tate performed his single “A change is gonna come” as an artist drew a painting of Floyd’s face on a large black canvas.

Floyd’s death after a Minneapolis police officer kneeled on his neck for almost nine minutes was caught on a video that triggered waves of protests – and could ultimately result in sweeping changes in the nation’s justice system.

Memorial services were held last week in Minneapolis and in Raeford, North Carolina, near where Floyd was born 46 years ago.

“Although it took 8 minutes and 46 seconds for him to die, it took 401 years to put the system in place,” Dr. Christopher Stackhouse said at the service in North Carolina. “A movement is happening in America, and I’m glad that all of us can say that it was George Floyd that sparked a fuse.”

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Floyd’s anguished cries of “I can’t breathe” have been scrawled on murals and chanted at protests nationwide. Floyd was also heard crying out for his “mama.” He will be buried next to his mother, Larcenia “Miss Cissy” Floyd, who died two years ago. 

Floyd grew up in Houston, a product of the Cuney Homes housing project – “The Bricks.”  Standing 6-foot-6 and known as “Big Floyd,” he starred at football but struggled with grades. A series of brushes with the law grew serious in 2009, when he pleaded guilty to armed aggravated robbery and was sent to prison for four years. 

After he was released in 2013, Floyd dedicated himself to helping young people avoid making the mistakes he made, friends say. He later moved to Minneapolis, and on Memorial Day a series of events took place that ended in his death, charges against four police officers and the world paying close attention.

The officers responded to a call from a teenage clerk at Cup Foods who suspected Floyd had purchased cigarettes with a fake $20 bill. Officers found Floyd in a car nearby with two other people and the confrontation began. A brutal effort by the officers to get Floyd in a police car ended in tragedy.

The reverberations have spread far beyond the arrest of those police officers. Confederate statues have fallen, pepper spray and chokeholds have been banned in some cities, and some cities are considering “defunding” their police departments. Civil rights lawyer Ben Crump, representing the family, petitioned the United Nations to review America’s police practices and racial injustice.

“On the final day of George Floyd’s homecoming, please join me in a ‘moment of silence’ lasting 8 minutes 46 seconds,” Crump said on Twitter. “Let’s remember George and all of our other lost Black men and women — and pray for their families in this difficult time.”

Contributing: Rick Jervis

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