Weekend. Representative john lewis was remembered at a Memorial Service in his hometown of troy, alabama. His brothers and sisters were among those speaking at the service. Representedho georgias fifth Congressional District for more than 30 years, died recently at the age of 80, after a battle with pancreatic cancer. The chancellor of Tory University and the citys mayor at leadoff the service. Good morning. The chancellor of troy university. On behalf of our board of trustees, several of our trustees are here this morning, i want to welcome you to this very special occasion. In particular that welcome is. Xtended family we certainly extend our condolences to the family and our appreciation for the family and what congressman lewis have meant not only for the state and country but to the world around us. And i welcome his on behalf of the party as well. I would be remiss this morning if i did not call attention to the efforts of one of our trustees, mr. Lamar higgins, in bringing all of us together in this place at this time. Today truly is a proud that dr. Martin luther king put him through troy. We are very proud of the identity. That it affords. I cant begin to tell you how many messages and calls i have had from not only inside this country but around the world the last few days as people have learned that john lewis was indeed from troy, alabama. We are proud of that fact. We are also proud that congressman lewis shared a withspecial philosophy some other great icons, such as miss rosa parks and dr. Martin luther king, in terms of change, the need for change and the need for nonviolent change. As i reflected on their philosophy over these years, it truly occurred to me more than many times that their philosophy contributed to the saving of countless numbers of lives, both white and black, if you think about the impact that they truly had on this world, and we appreciate them. I think a good dose of their philosophy would benefit our country today. Would benefit our country today. On a personal note, having been here since 1989, i had many occasions to welcome congressman lewis home as he came to campus. I wanted to share with you this morning three points that were always part of our conversation. The first was with that sheepish grin, he would always remind me that in 1957, he was denied admission to troy state college. [laughter] and then he would quickly tell me that 32 years later, we had the good sense to award him the honorary doctorate. [laughter] which, of course, we were very, very proud of. I trusted he was proud of that, too, but it was that sheepish grin that ill remember when we talked about societal change, which prompts me to cite the Second Thought i had, which is that we would talk about this country, and this great country. He loved america. We are not a perfect country, but i have been around enough to know that we are the best there is in spite of our problems and it is because of people like john lewis that we have become what we are today. But he would cite this university as an example of change because in 1957, we did not enroll the first africanamerican student. We did not have an international student, but we are very proud today that 30 of our students are africanamerican, and we have almost 80 countries are presented here. We talked about the importance and the impact of diversity, and he was proud of that. We share that pride. Ago, 25 years ago, working with ms. Parks as we planned and built the Rosa Parks Museum on our montgomery campus, on the very site where she was arrested on december 1, 1955. He took pride in that museum. And over the years since we opened it, we have hosted more than 225 members of the United States congress, senators, and on many of those occasions, it was their delegations were actually led by congressman lewis as they came home to make that pilgrimage to selma, they would always stop at the Rosa Parks Museum. And he became so proficient during his more than a dozen tours that he could give the very tour that our tour guides give. And so we were proud to share that and proud to share that relationship with him of miss rosa parks. Over the years, he received much recognition when he would come home, and on an academic basis in 2006, he actually was awarded the prize for southern literature for his memoir, walking with the wind. If you have not, i am sure all of you have read it, but i encourage everyone to read it. It is an excellent autobiography that outlines his nonviolent struggle that literally defined his life. Today as i close, i wanted to share one lasting tribute we are very proud of. I want to thank the family for agreeing to do this. Almost two decades ago, we began to offer in the community during africanamerican history month, the leadership conference, and it has become truly one of the most important scheduled events during the year here, but i think it has also become one of the most important leadership experiences across this country. Aite frankly it has included whos who in the civil rights movement. Speakers have included Extraordinary People like the reverend joseph lowery, ambassador andrew young, dr. Bernice king, juanita abernathy, and so many others whose names you would know in a minute. Hosted8 we also, as we congressman lewis home for the john lewis day, he also delivered the keynote address to that conference. I want to make sure that all of you know about the conference and you are invited to join us in when we host that conference february each year it will be perpetually known as the congressman john lewis leadership conference. [applause] it is our belief, and i hope the family shares this, that it is a fitting tribute to a true trojan. May god bless the memory of a very good man. Thank you. [applause] [no talking] on the half of the citizens of troy and pike county, the troy city council, three of whose members are here, i would i want to offer to the family the prayers of our community and the pride that we have that congressman lewis has come home. I have frankly never felt more unworthy to be in front of a microphone short of my salvation and the opportunity to be a father, i do not know if i have ever felt as unworthy of being on this stage, but as a leader of this community, i would offer up a few thoughts to the family. Three things have come to mind for me over this past week. I have a longstanding connection to the lewis family. Coached me and darrius on an allstar team for the city of troy. Darrius was sure a lot better ballplayer than i was, but they let me hang around. The thing that kept coming to mind and that i would see, you know, grant lived by example. He was not one of those coaches that hauler or had to yell. He lived that way. And that is what John Robert Lewis did. He was a man of action. He was a man of action. I was looking at something this week from his academic record, and the counselor had written at the bottom appears shy, but verbally says he is going onto school to be somebody. I thought about that word be and how be is not only a linking for, but it is an action verb. And i thought about all the actions he had taken and the example that he had been, and the courage that it took to do those things. It was otherworldly courage, and i thought about john 14 27, when jesus says, my peace i give to you, not as the world gives, let your heart not be troubled. Do not be afraid. And anyone who knew John Robert Lewis knew that jesus christ was his lord savior. Through the holy spirit, he had a peace that gave him the courage to do all the things he did. I read a story years ago about people saying, well, dont you think we ought to let it settle down . Dont you think we ought to let it cool down . He said, no, we are going to march. You are right, but we are going to march. That action has inspired this community and has inspired this world. We had the opportunity during alabamas bicentennial to honor one person in the 200year history of this community. And it was a very special day for this community when we had as a chance, mr. Hawkins mentioned john lewis day, and i will never forget him doing the happy dance that day. We got a wonderful photo of him doing it, and i know that when he passed, he did the happy dance into the gates of heaven. That day i told a little bit of this story that day. But in 1986, that summer i was playing ball, that same september that he won the runoff, a song was released by a group called Bruce Hornsby and the range called that is the way it is. As i pulled up to the library that day when we were going to honor him, and i stopped and was trying to take my breath and get ready, i was excited. I was nervous. I was, you know it was going to , be a wonderful day. And that song came on the radio, and i was under the crest of a hill, and the only thing i could see on the cupola from the library was the banner for congressman lewis. And the second verse of that song is hey, little boy you , cannot go where the others go because you dont look like they do, and he said, hey, old man, how can you stand to think that way, and did you really think about it when you made the rules . He said, that is just the way it is, some things will never change, but dont you believe them. And john lewis did not believe them, and he changed the world. He was a man of action and he was a man of tangible things. And i will leave you with this. As i stood down there and i watched his body be brought in, over the top of the casket, i saw an Alabama State trooper. And he became a figure known around the world for action on the Edmund Pettus bridge, confronting Alabama State troopers, and now Alabama State troopers will lead his body around this state as we celebrate his life. [applause] and even more than that, my dear friend, charles ward, who will bury his mother on monday, he and i have talked a lot this last week or so, but every one of those state troopers that wears that uniform, works for colonel charles ward. Charles ward is an africanamerican man, and he is the colonel of the Alabama State troopers, not because of the color of his skin, but because of the content of his character, and because of the ability he has. And that is what john lewis did for troy, for pike county, for the United States, and for the world. And i am honored to be here. This community is honored that you are here, and we mourn and grieve with you and pray for you. Thank you very much. [applause] may we pray. God of our strength, god of our struggle, your mercy is everlasting, and your truth endures to all generations. Our hearts are saddened by the transition of the inspirational icon congressman John Robert Lewis. John has left the modern trappings of time to engage in the affairs of eternity. Deny the therapy to properly mourn, therapy found in the unrestricted fellowship of family and friends, and we yet possess the resolve to say thank you, gracious one. Thank you, god of our weary years. Thank you, god of our silent tears. Thank you, god, who heard our cry and pittied our groan. Thank you, benevolent father of us all, for the commitment, the contributions, the compassion, and the character of John Robert Lewis. Thank you, merciful master, for the boy from troy, who was the conscience of congress. Thank you, selfsufficient sustainer, for embedding in john lewis the actuality that christianity and politics can coexist ethically and with equity. Thank you, holy one for john lewis, whose christianity shaped his politics, and john never allowing politics to disfigure his christianity. Most holy, thank you for john lewis, who embraced the redemptive calls of engaging himself in good trouble. Good trouble allowed john to cross bridges blockaded by legalized lynchmen who were inspired by the false notion of racial supremacy. Thank you, father of all mercy, for john, who wore the mantle of good trouble and did not flinch in the face of fear when confronted by deputized demons who intended to discourage, deny, and ultimately destroy the just cause of John Robert Lewis. Thank you, true and righteous judge, for john lewis and his engagement in good trouble. Good trouble that confronted, institutionalized racism. Good trouble that compelled this boy from troy, the conscious of congress, to deny himself and take up the cross daily as he championed the cause of a disinherited, despised and disenfranchised. We ask you, o god, thou who has brought us thus far along the way, to do what only our god can do, johns god can do. Comfort his family, preserve his legacy, and promote johns passions. A passion that grants everyone the inalienable right of the liberty and justice for all. In the name of he who died that we might live, jesus the christ, amen. Isaiah, chapter 57, verse one and two. The righteous perish and no man layeth in heart, and merciful men are taken away. None consider that the righteous is taken away from the evil to come. He shall enter into peace. They shall rest in their beds. Each one walking in the uprightness. Gods word. Second timothy, chapter four, commencing midverse number six. For i am ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight. I have finished my course. I have kept the faith. Henceforth, is laid upon me a crown of righteousness, which the lord, the righteous judge, shall give me it that day, and not to me only, but unto all those who love is appearing. The word of god for the people of god. [no talking] good morning. To our special guest dr. Hawkins. Welcome everyone. On behalf of the family i would like to welcome and thank each of you for coming. I had took the time to plan this , i would say, list of accolades that john had accomplished. Then i said to myself, they know about all of that. I need to tell them some things about john that they might not know. The john lewis that i knew. The john lewis that i want you to know about is the john lewis that would gravitate toward the least of us. Would drop by his fouryearold nephew birthday party, to feed the homeless on thanksgiving day. Took the time to go by a young mans house in troy who had portrayed a Young John Lewis in his black history class, asking his Young Brothers to be part of this special guest list while receiving the medal of freedom from president barack obama. Making a surprise visit to his great nephews fifth grade class at charles henderson. Always attending family functions, even if he could only stay for an hour or so because of his busy schedule. He was always concerned about the health and wellbeing of his family and members of others. To sum up his life of john lewis, i would say he worked a lifetime to help others and make the world a better place in which to live. And on a personal note, i talked to john on thursday, the day before he passed, and we would always have these interesting conversations. He would always ask me, how is everybody doing . No matter how bad he felt. So we exchanged the love we have for each other. Thursday, thursday night rather. And his last word was, hows the family doing . How is everybody doing . I said, they are doing fine. He said, to make sure i asked about them. And on a little bit of a humorous side, when john was first sworn into congress, i right, int my year 1986, i was there. And during the swearingin ceremony, right before, he looked up. He knew where i was sitting, he looked up and gave me the thumbs up, and i gave him the thumbs up back. So after the event was over, we were together, and i asked him, i said, john, what were you thinking when you gave me the thumbs up . He was thinking, this is a long way from the cotton fields of alabama. [laughter] and those are the memories that i have with my brother, and we would have these latenight conversations and earlymorning conversations where he would , call me at 11 00 or 12 00 at night and asked me, are you asleep . I would say, no, i am not asleep, john. But actually, i was sleeping. And he would say, have you heard from freddie or vivi lately . I said, yes, talk to them a few days ago. He said, i think i will call them. I say, do not call them tonight. Call them tomorrow. Because it is late. That is the john lewis we grew to love, and our family in nashville will miss him, but he was at peace. He was at peace, and he was ready to meet the lord. Thank you. [applause] good morning, everybody. Good morning. My name is jackson lewis, and congressman john lewis was my uncle and my hero. It is up to us to keep his legacy alive. Thank you, guys. [applause] [laughter] good morning. Good morning. John robert lewis, my big brother, humble man, simple man, and a man of god. He always wanted to improve the lives of others without any concern for himself. His deep faith in god made him extraordinary. He was fearless by trusting in god because he was chosen. He lived with a never ending desire was to help others. He often told us, if you see something wrong, do something. His actions showed us just that. In a time when going to jail was perceived as trouble, he reminded us that it was good trouble. Necessary trouble. See something, say something, do something. Thank you. [applause] it must have been cold there in my shadow to never have sunlight on your face youve been content to let me shine thats your way while you always walked a step behind i was the one with all the glory while you were the one with all the strength a beautiful face without a name we never once heard you complain ohh did you ever know that you were our hero and everything wed like to be we can fly higher than an eagle cause you were the wind beneath our wings ohh oh did you ever know that you were our hero and everything wed like to be be we can fly higher than an eagle because you are the wind beneath our wings you are the wind beneath our wings ooo ooo [applause] good morning. Good morning. [indiscernible] writing attribute to a person who you have known all of your life was hard for me. But i am thankful for the treasure of memories that we shared with him. Preaching to us out of that old pecan tree. He would preach, and he probably did the praying, also. Robert most everyone calls him john. He has always been just robert to us, his family, our brother. Robert been preaching justice and equality even at a young age. And one of my brothers mentioned in the cotton fields. We was farmers, our fathers. Everyone was farmers. And i remember long ago when the sun,s would come over the he would start singing and and the song he would always start with, there is a dark cloud rising, lets go home. Lets go home. He was also afraid of thunder and lightning. But he stood by. He always was a fighter. And, you know