Ossie Davis Memorial Held in Harlem

[undergroundrailroad]

Ossie Davis Memorial Held in Harlem

Celebrities Join Harlem Residents to Remember Actor, Civil Rights Activist Ossie Davis

By DEEPTI HAJELA

The Associated Press

Feb. 12, 2005 - The stars of Hollywood joined the people of Harlem to bid farewell Saturday to actor and activist Ossie Davis, filling a Manhattan church with laughter and tears as a parade of admirers recalled his integrity, courage and devotion to family.

Friends, fans and family members crowded into the Riverside Church for the funeral, gazing at a video screen bearing his picture that was hung above an altar.

His wife of 56 years, actress Ruby Dee, sat in the front row, near where Davis' coffin stood covered in flowers. Former president Bill Clinton led a contingent of well-known mourners, including Spike Lee, Cornel West, Rachel Robinson and outgoing NAACP president Kweisi Mfume.

"He would have been a very good president of the United States," Clinton said. "I have only this to say: Like most of you here, he gave more to me than I gave to him."

Entertainer Harry Belafonte, Davis' friend for six decades, gave the eulogy.

[jeffrey_X]

1. RIP Ossie.

Great list of speakers and Clinton's words just gave me chills.

What a great man.