Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr. Honored at Grand Funeral in Kenwood Hundreds gathered at the Rainbow PUSH Coalition headquarters in Kenwood on Saturday to pay their final respects to civil rights icon Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr., who passed away on February 17 at the age of 84. The funeral service, held at the organization’s headquarters, drew attendees from across the globe, including political leaders, celebrities, and community members, as they commemorated the life of a man who dedicated decades to social justice and activism. The event, which began with mourners lining up by 7 a.m. for the 10 a.m. service, filled the venue to capacity and lasted until after 2 p.m. The ceremony featured tributes to Jackson’s legacy as a civil rights leader, his role in Chicago since the 1960s, and his impact as a neighbor in the Jackson Park Highlands neighborhood. His body was later laid to rest at Oak Woods Cemetery in Woodlawn. Among those in attendance were Mayor Brandon Johnson and other local officials, Rev. Al Sharpton, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, Democratic Republic of the Congo President Félix Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo, actor Mr. T, comedian Jussie Smollett, and actress Sheryl Lee Ralph. The gathering also included a performance by Stevie Wonder, who sang two songs and delivered a heartfelt speech about his experiences marching alongside Jackson. Wonder concluded his set with a powerful rendition of his 1976 hit “As.” The funeral followed a public memorial on Friday at House of Hope Church on the Far South Side, which attracted thousands, including former presidents Barack Obama, Bill Clinton, and Joe Biden, as well as former Vice President Kamala Harris and former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton.#rainbow_push_coalition #rev_jesse_jackson_sr #kenwood #oak_woods_cemetery #woodlawn
Rev. Jesse Jackson's Funeral Services Conclude with Private Ceremony in Chicago The funeral services for the late civil rights leader, Rev. Jesse Jackson, concluded on Saturday with a private ceremony at the Rainbow PUSH Coalition headquarters in Chicago. The services, which began earlier in the week, included a public homegoing service at the House of Hope megachurch on Friday, where thousands of attendees gathered to honor Jackson, who died last month at the age of 84. The final private ceremony marked the culmination of a week of tributes, including lying in repose at Rainbow PUSH headquarters, lying in state at the South Carolina state capitol, and a public homegoing service at the House of Hope. During the Friday homegoing service at the House of Hope, former Vice President Kamala Harris held a campaign button from Jackson’s 1988 presidential run while speaking to mourners. Former President Barack Obama addressed attendees, as did former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, former President Joe Biden, and former first lady Jill Biden. The event drew a diverse crowd, including political figures, civil rights advocates, and members of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition. The casket of Rev. Jesse Jackson was placed at the front of the sanctuary during the Friday service, with attendees raising hands in prayer and participating in a musical tribute. A tambourine was raised by an attendee during the musical segment, symbolizing the community’s unity in mourning. Memorial programs were distributed to attendees, featuring details about Jackson’s life and legacy. The final private ceremony on Saturday at Rainbow PUSH headquarters saw pallbearers remove the casket from a hearse, marking the transition to the final rites. Jacqueline Jackson, the widow of Rev.#barack_obama #kamala_harris #house_of_hope #rev_jesse_jackson #rainbow_push_coalition
