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
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.”
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?”
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”.
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.
Anthony Madu, the 14-year-old Nigerian dancer from Lagos who gained admission to a prestigious ballet…
Actor-host Wayne Brady recently opened up about his early financial struggles in his now thriving…
Mia Arianna, also known as @mia.ariannaa on TikTok, helped her son become an honorary team…
Alvin Gauthier, a Grand Prairie USPS postman, recently went above and beyond to brighten a…
Maj. Gen. Fatuma Gaiti Ahmed is the first female commander of the air force and…
Benjamin E. Mays High School brought together its 272 senior class members for a meeting…
Afrika Owes' emotional response to learning that she had passed the bar exam on her…
A 49-year-old New York attorney was on April 26 sentenced to 10 years in federal…
During an appearance on The Jennifer Hudson Show on Wednesday, pop legend Cher opened up…
Authorities in Florida said an 11-year-old boy was accidentally shot and killed by his 14-year-old…
The famous Taylor Schlitz family is making headlines once more as the youngest of the…
Sony Pictures Entertainment has appointed Tahra Grant as its Chief Communications Officer. She replaces Robert…
Meet Ashley M. Fox, the founder of Empify and the first in her family to…
Tyra Banks, the iconic former host of Dancing With the Stars, has made a delightful…
A Brazilian woman named Érika de Souza, 42, is under investigation for manslaughter after authorities…