Funeral Plans Set For Evangelist Billy Graham

CHARLOTTE, NC — The memorial program for famed North Carolina evangelist Rev. Billy Graham, begins Saturday, touching off a week of events that will allow the public to pay respects in Charlotte and Washington, D.C.

Graham, who transformed American religious life through his preaching and activism, becoming a counselor to presidents and the most widely heard Christian evangelist in history, died Feb. 21. He was 99. Graham, who long suffered from cancer, pneumonia and other ailments, died at his home in North Carolina, according spokesman Mark DeMoss.

Graham’s funeral, to be held in Charlotte March 2 at noon, will be private and 2,300 mourners are expected to attend, according to The Charlotte Observer. The event overlaps with the CIAA Tournament that will be held March 1-3, which is expected to bring as many as 100,000 to the Queen City.

SEE ALSO: Evangelist Billy Graham, 'America's Pastor,' Dies At 99

Here is a list of Memorial Events for Graham:

Saturday, Feb. 24 — Motorcade
At approximately 11:25 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 24, a motorcade will depart the Billy Graham Training Center at The Cove in Asheville, North Carolina. The motorcade is expected to arrive in Charlotte at approximately 2:20 p.m.

Here is a detailed map of the motorcade route and recommended viewing areas. You will find a detailed map of Black Mountain, N.C. and Charlotte here and here.

Monday, Feb. 26 - Tuesday, Feb. 27 — Lie in Repose, Charlotte
On Monday and Tuesday, Feb. 26-27, Mr. Graham will lie in repose inside the Graham Family Homeplace on the Billy Graham Library grounds. His casket will remain closed.

Each day, the line will be open to the public from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.

There will be no on-site public parking during this period of lie in repose. All public parking will be accommodated at the Operation Christmas Child Processing Center located at 7100 Forest Point Blvd., a few miles from the Billy Graham Library and at the Charlotte Business Valet, Lot 2 at 5807 Wilkinson Blvd. Complimentary public shuttle buses will run continually from these lots to and from the Graham Family Homeplace. The last shuttle will depart the parking lot 30 minutes before the public lie in repose closes.

The Billy Graham Library public visitation guide may be found here.

Wednesday, Feb. 28 - Friday, March 2 — Lie in Honor, Washington, D.C.
Billy Graham will lie in honor in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda from Feb. 28-March 1.

Friday, March 2 — Funeral, Charlotte
A private funeral service will be held on Friday, March 2. Mr. Graham will be buried beside his wife, Ruth, at the foot of the cross-shaped brick walkway in the Prayer Garden, on the northeast side of the Billy Graham Library.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Photo: The body of Billy Graham—in a simple casket made of pine—rests behind a pulpit at The Billy Graham Training Center at The Cove in Asheville, N.C. The family felt the casket’s placement was fitting since Graham spent most of his life preaching the gospel from behind a pulpit. Courtesy of Billy Graham Evangelistic Association