James Brown Funeral Will Be In Augusta
A public funeral service for "Godfather of Soul" James Brown at an 8,500-seat arena bearing his name in his hometown of Augusta, Ga., will be held Saturday, Brown's agent said Tuesday.
Brown, who died Monday of heart failure in Atlanta at age 73, will be buried later Saturday in Augusta, Brown's agent, Frank Copsidas, told The Associated Press.
A private funeral service for Brown that will include family and friends will be held Friday, Copsidas said, though he declined to say where that event will be held.
Photos: The Godfather Of Soul
On Thursday, members of the public will be able to view Brown's body, which will lie in state at the Apollo Theater in New York, Copsidas said. The body also will lie in state on Saturday at James Brown Arena in Augusta, where the 1 p.m. public service will be held, Copsidas said.
Friends are calling the public service a "homecoming celebration" for Brown.
The public funeral service, which the Rev. Al Sharpton will officiate, is expected to draw a who's who of entertainment figures and public officials.
Sharpton and some of Brown's relatives spent Tuesday afternoon at an Augusta funeral home, where they were expected to view the singer's body and finalize funeral arrangements. Sharpton left the funeral home without speaking to reporters.
Brown is survived by his partner, Tomi Rae Hynie, one of his backup singers, and at least four children — his two daughters and sons Daryl and James Brown II, Copsidas said.
Fans flocked to Brown's statue in Augusta Tuesday to pay their respects, leaving flowers and other items.
By Harry Webber