Muhammad Ali's Funeral a Testament to His Titanic Impact

Louisville, KY -- Thousands of people gathered Friday along the streets of Louisville to say goodbye and pay their respects to Muhammad Ali, an icon of boxing greatness and personal integrity to many across the globe and a beloved hometown hero in Kentucky's largest city.

Ali died last Friday, June 3, at the age of 74. He was surrounded by his family at the time of his death.

The services began on Thursday with thousands attending a traditional Islamic funeral ritual, Janazah, at the Kentucky Exposition Center, led by Imam Zaid Shakir, a prominent American Muslim scholar. After a brief, four-part prayer, a passage from the Quran was read and three short speeches were given, news outlets reported.

During the procession Friday, the champion's motorcade drove between rows of people, many chanting his name, according to news accounts, on its way to Ali's public memorial at the KFC Yum! Center at 3 p.m. local time. People ran beside the procession chanting "champion," and one man carried a sign reading, "Ali is the greatest of all time, thanks 4 all the memories!" At one point, a procession of police flanked the hearse as it drove through a crowd, its windshield now nearly covered by roses and other flowers tossed by onlookers.

A number of high-profile figures spoke at the service, including former President Bill Clinton, Bryant Gumbel, Billy Crystal and Ali's wife, Lonnie. It featured representatives of several different religions, including Christianity, Buddhism and Judaism, as well as Islam. CBS reports that Ali and a close circle of friends and family began a document called "The Book" years ago, which laid out in precise detail just how Ali wished to say goodbye to the world.

The memorial service was a testament to the great and diverse number of people Ali impacted. From rabbis and priests to Buddhists and Native Americans, it encompassed the many aspects of his life. As Senator Orrin Hatch of Utah said, “Ali didn’t look at life through the binary lens of Republican or Democrat so common today. He saw worthy causes and shared humanity.” The various speakers' words also reflected Ali’s personality. From humorous anecdotes to passionate words about inequality and Palestine, there were flashes of Ali’s humor, drive for justice, and most of all, his kindness channeled through those that spoke of him. “ [Ali] brought a light into my world, our world,” said Chief Oren Lyons. “And that light will shine a long, long, time. Peace brother, peace.”

President Obama, who was represented by Valerie Jarrett, who read a statement on his behalf, said earlier in the week that "[Ali] will always be The Greatest."

Clinton, who gave the eulogy, called Ali a "universal soldier for our common humanity."

Ali once said, “I've made my share of mistakes along the way, but if I have changed even one life for the better, I haven't lived in vain.” His memorial service demonstrates that he did that and so much more.

Ali will be buried in a modest plot at Cave Hill Cemetery, on the outskirts of Louisville.

(Patch will provide an embed to a live stream of the funeral if one is available.)

Photo courtesy of Pablo Raw.