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BY Nii Ntreh, 5:00pm October 25, 2019,

Cummings is first African-American to be laid in state at the Capitol [Photos]

by Nii Ntreh, 5:00pm October 25, 2019,
WASHINGTON, DC - OCTOBER 24: A portrait of the late Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-MD) sits nearby as his remains lie in state outside the House Chamber of the U.S. Capitol October 24, 2019 in Washington, DC. Rep. Cummings passed away on October 17, 2019 at the age of 68 from "complications concerning longstanding health challenges." He is the first African American lawmaker to lie in state at the U.S. Capitol. (Photo by Tom Williams-Pool/Getty Images)

A funeral has been held for the late Elijah Cummings, the former representative for Maryland’s 7th district, in his home city of Baltimore. Cummings had previously been laid in state at the Capitol in Washington, becoming the first African-American to be given the posthumous honour.

The funeral was attended by former presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama; former Secretary of State and Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton; former vice-president and competing presidential candidate nominee for Democrats in 2020, Joe Biden as well as House Speaker, Nancy Pelosi, reports USAToday.com

Rep Elijah Cummings
Pallbearers carrying Cummings’ coffin at the Capitol in Washington. Photo The Baltimore Sun

In his tribute to the audience, former President Obama praised Cummings saying: “He would remind all of us that our time is too short not to fight for what is good, true and best in America. And now it falls on us to continue his work.”

Funeral for Rep. Elijah Cummings | PHOTOS
Former President Obama at Cummings’ funeral. Photo Credit: The Baltimore Sun

On his part, former President Clinton praised Cummings’ intentional approach to politics where he sought to befriend people even if they disagreed on issues.

The former president said: “Why did he do that? How did he do that?”

Former President Bill Clinton speaks during funeral services for the late Rep. Elijah Cummings, D-Md., at the New Psalmist Baptist Church on Oct. 25, 2019, in Baltimore, Maryland.
Bill Clinton at the funeral. Photo Credit: USATODAY.com

Maya Rockeymoore Cummings, Cummings’ widow also mourned her husband, revealing that the former chairman of the House Oversight Committee was personally hurt when Donald Trump mocked him.

“He was a man of soul and spirit. He felt very deeply,” she said.

Cummings also said her husband would have hated to lie in state at the Capitol but “we needed to make sure that he went out with the respect and the dignity that he deserved”.

Maya Rockeymoore Cummings pauses while speaking during the funeral services for her late husband, Rep. Elijah Cummings.
Maya Rockeymoore Cummings pausing for reflection while giving a speech at her husband’s funeral. Photo Credit: USATODAY.com

Cummings died on Thursday, October 17, due to “complications concerning longstanding health challenges” his office said.

Cummings, a son of sharecropper represented Maryland’s 7th Congressional District since 1996 and was heavily involved with the Trump impeachment inquiry.

As chairman of the House Oversight and Reform Committee, he instigated several investigations into the Trump administration, including probes in 2019 relating to Trump’s family members serving while in the White House.

Last Edited by:iboateng Updated: March 5, 2020

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