National political figures, state elected officials, family and friends came together to honor Lindsey Graham's life in a pensive, ceremonial and at times humorous memorial ceremony in South Carolina.
Hundreds of people attended a July 29 memorial service at First Baptist Church of Columbia for Graham, who died on July 11 from an aortic dissection. During the service, acquaintances of the senator spoke highly of his legacy, dedication, hard work and jovial spirit, telling stories about who Graham was in Congress and outside of Washington, D.C. for over two decades.
More: Gov. McMaster, South Carolinians honor Lindsey Graham at SC service | Live
People filed into the church chapel in the hours leading up to the start of the service and watched teary eyed as the honor guard carried Graham's casket into the building. Darline Graham, the senator's sister, sat in the front pew alongside her husband and children. High profile state and national political figure — including Gov. Henry McMaster, U.S. Secretary of Transportation Scott Bessent, and former Govs. Nikki Haley and Mark Sanford — filled into the pews alongside them.
The memorial service was made up of scripture readings, prayers, tributes and music from the church's orchestra and choir. U.S. Rep. Jim Clyburn, D-District 6, gave a scripture reading.
Speakers laughed as they remembered Graham's sense of humor and shed tears while speaking of the senator's passing.
McMaster, one of three speakers who paid tribute to Graham, commended his sense of determination, coming from a humble background in a small town and becoming someone with great influence. Graham grew up in Central, where his parents owned a bar and pool hall. He legally adopted his younger sister Darline when she was a teenager after their parents died within 15 months of each other.
"We meet in sadness over the loss of one of South Carolina's greatest sons, but also to celebrate this poor boy from a little town in South Carolina, as he called himself," McMaster said. "Celebrate what he accomplished through grit, determination, character for his state, his country, and the world."
McMaster described Graham as someone who "treated everybody the same" and worked tirelessly. He described tense meetings and phone calls, during which Graham would make jokes to cut the tension.
"I recite all these instances just to present a picture of a man I will describe as a full-fledged son of South Carolina, a man of genuine happiness, dedicated to the state and devoted to his friends and to his family," McMaster said.
Sen. Tim Scott, R-South Carolina, and former U.S. Rep. Trey Gowdy, R-District 4, also remembered Graham for his humor, with Scott joking at one point that Graham was not a morning person but still showed up to one of Scott's early morning prayer breakfasts out of a commitment to his friend.
"Lindsey walks through the door because Lindsey Graham is always committed to his friends, even if it was uncomfortable for him," Scott said.
Gowdy, giving the last tribute to Graham, described how their relationship started with Graham endorsing Gowdy's competitor for Congress, yet the two developed a close friendship. Gowdy said that the Central-native was not afraid to make a tough vote if he believed it would benefit South Carolina.
He described Graham's path building up his career from small-town roots as "the story of America."
"The reason Lindsey resonated with us is because he was us," Gowdy said. "This undersized kid who was not born with a silver spoon in his mouth, but he was born with a plastic fork in his mouth in Central South Carolina."
The First Baptist Church ceremony lasted about two hours, and it ended with the honor guard escorting Graham's casket out of the chapel where a law enforcement motorcade waited outside. The motorcade was headed to Pickens County, where Graham's family will hold a private burial in the senator's hometown.
Bella Carpentier covers the South Carolina legislature, state, and Greenville County politics. Contact her at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on Greenville News: At SC service, leaders recall Lindsey Graham's hard work, jovial spirit