I know that I have added a lot of posts for Elizabeth Edwards but she was a hero to me how she lived her life, with dignity, love, and honesty. She will be missed terribly.
Published Sat, Dec 11, 2010 12:08 PM
Modified Sat, Dec 11, 2010 07:04 PM
Published Sat, Dec 11, 2010 12:08 PM
Modified Sat, Dec 11, 2010 07:04 PM
CLOWENST@NEWSOBSERVER.COM
John Edwards, center, leaves the Edenton Street United Methodist Church in Raleigh with his children Emma Claire, left, Jack and Cate, right, after Elizabeth Edward's funeral on Saturday, December 11, 2010.
RALEIGH Elizabeth Edwards, in a funeral attended by hundreds of mourners at Edenton Street United Methodist Church and many more outside in a steady drizzle in downtown Raleigh, was praised today for her love, courage, optimism, generosity and friendship.
Former Sen. John Edwards, with his three surviving children, entered the church for his wife's funeral at 1 p.m. He embraced his 2004 running mate on the Democratic national ticket, Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts, and also Gov. Bev Perdue before Elizabeth Edwards' casket, draped in white, was brought to the front of the church.
Hargrave McElroy, Elizabeth Edwards' close friend for the past 29 years, praised her optimism, her competitiveness, her generous friendship and her "embrace of all that is possible" in her opening eulogy.
Longtime friend Glenn Bergenfield then brought laughter from the mourners with stories of his friendship with "sweet, sweet Elizabeth," which began in law school in 1974 and has "sustained me in times both good and wretched."
Finally, Edwards' older daughter, Cate, spoke. "She could bring out the brave in anyone," Cate said, recounting moments near the end when her mom could no longer speak but still, with gestures, comforted her family more than they could comfort her.
Down the street, members of the Westboro Baptist Church of Topeka, Kan., known for picketing outside military funerals, brought a small group to picket near Edwards' service. The church members have picketed at the funerals of Coretta Scott King and Jerry Falwell, among many others. A much larger local group, "Line of Love," organized a counterprotest in support of "promoting proper respect for funerals."
As the funeral began, three adults and two children from the Westboro church were on one side of Edenton Street, holding signs denigrating Edwards.
On the other side of the street, in front of the Justice Department building, several hundred counterprotesters gathered in the drizzle. Signs in the crowd said, "God loves Elizabeth Edwards," and others, in pink, said simply, "Hope" and "Hero."
The crowd supporting Edwards sang Christmas carols, the National Anthem and "Lean on Me," the Bill Withers classic. Other supporters circled the block in cars, playing country music as the crowd cheered.
Some supporters brought American flag umbrellas to pass out to the crowd, and one man brought a poster-making kit.
Among the Edwards supporters was Bob Krasnicka, who came from Wake Forest to help.
"I'm sick of hearing about these people going to funerals and spreading their hate," said Krasnicka, 48, referring to the Westboro protesters. Of Edwards, he said, "I know she has young children who don't need to be seeing this kind of hate."
Edwards, 61, died Tuesday after a battle with cancer. Her husband was the Democrats' 2004 vice presidential candidate and made a failed bid for the presidency in 2008. The couple separated after John Edwards fathered a child with his mistress.
The couple had four children together, including 12-year-old Emma Claire and 10-year-old Jack.
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