After a long life of travel to preach the gospel, Billy Graham was finally laid to rest for good Friday.
The private service was held under a tent that harkens to the 1949 crusade in the “canvas cathedral” that shot Graham to national attention.
More than 2,000 invited guests, including President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence and their wives, have bid farewell to the Charlotte-born evangelist who became known as “America’s pastor.”
Graham died at 99 on Feb. 21.
The noon service took place outside the Billy Graham Library southwest of uptown. The day was sunny but windy, with a high near 60, after Thursday’s steady rain. The 28,000-square-foot tent was designed to withstand hurricane-strength winds.
The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, called the funeral “Billy Graham’s Last Crusade” and the service was broadcast live beginning at 10 a.m. The guests included delegates from 50 countries, and was covered by 400 to 500 members of the media.
