There they stood, three buddies at the center of the elevated pulpit, all wiping away tears and preparing to speak at the memorial service for their friend, their colleague and, in some cases, their mentor.
They appeared uncomfortable, and it took a few minutes before someone began. But as they cleared their throats, a round of applause arose from the church. It was obvious that the thousands in attendance were ready to laugh, and celebrate the life of Bernie Mac.
Cedric the Entertainer, the first to speak, surveyed the audience and delivered a line that seemed to best sum up the service.
"This dude," said the comedian and actor, "is a very, very popular guy. You know y'all were like, 'Let me get four tickets to the funeral!' He's still the hottest ticket in town!"
The 7,000 or so in the House of Hope on the South Side roared with laughter, nodding in agreement. It was a service that was part late-night Saturday comedy show, part early morning Sunday church service—a fitting tribute to the comedian, actor and Chicago native son who died a week earlier of complications from pneumonia.
Cedric, joined by Steve Harvey and D.L. Hughley, starred with Mac in the 2000 film "The Original Kings of Comedy." The three were joined by a long list of fellow comedians, actors and dignitaries who attended the service.
Harvey appeared solemn one moment—"You tell jokes for a living, you dig? Sometimes it's just not funny"—and in another he would unleash hilarious tales about working with Mac.
He told how Mac, formidable at 6-foot-3 and built like a football player, would pat the guys on their butts to encourage them before performances."But Bernie was heavy-handed. He had real strong hands, and they were cupped all like this," Harvey said, demonstrating Mac's hands while the audience howled in laughter.
Harvey said Mac had an amazing career.
"Bernie always said that he walked alone. I don't think that he was alone. I think he was walking with Jesus. I'll see you soon, Bernie," Harvey said, looking upward, then with perfect timing: "Well, I don't want to see you too soon."
The crowd included actors Samuel L. Jackson, Don Cheadle and Salli Richardson, comedian and actor Chris Rock, radio host Tom Joyner, basketball player Juwan Howard, producer and writer Ali LeRoi, comedians Mike Collier, Bruce Bruce and George Wallace, Mayor Richard Daley and Rev. Jesse Jackson.
Those not in attendance—such as Oprah Winfrey, Sen. Barack Obama, Maxine Waters, the O'Jays and actor Andy Garcia—sent notes that were read at the ceremony.
"Michelle and I were so deeply sad to hear about your loss. . . . He . . . [made] us laugh and laugh hard," Obama's statement read. Mac caught flak recently when he joked about menopause, sexual infidelity and promiscuity at a July fundraiser for Obama.
During Saturday's service, Obama went on to write that Mac could say things others couldn't. "Bernie Mac will be sorely missed," he wrote.
Others not in attendance sent condolences to Mac's wife, Rhonda, and daughter, Je'niece Childress, who attended the service.
Many in the crowd, however, were people who felt a connection to Mac and saw themselves represented in his comedy. Some slept outside the church to guarantee a place inside.
Most began arriving about 7:45 a.m., nearly four hours before the service.
"This shows support . . . from the whole Chicago area and how much he will be missed," said Pamela Gordon of Chicago, one of the hundreds who waited in line for hours to get in the church at 752 E. 114th St.
Mac's career included a self-titled TV series that ran for several years and movie roles in "Ocean's Eleven," "Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle" and "Transformers."
The ceremony, which started shortly after noon and ended about 4 p.m., was filled with music, including a tribute from Rachelle Ferrell, Mac's favorite singer, and an audio tribute to Mac and Isaac Hayes, who also died last weekend.
Samuel L. Jackson, who stars with Mac and Hayes in the November movie "Soul Men," recalled how he and Mac talked about the loss of privacy when a person becomes famous. Jackson said that although he gets bothered by fans coming up and invading his space, it never bothered Mac.
"He never lost being that kid from Chicago who wanted to make you laugh. He never said, 'Back off,' Jackson said, then, drawing laughter: "I don't have a problem with doing that."
Jackson also talked about working with Mac on their upcoming movie.
"It was a real joy. I knew he was having some health issues, and I was concerned," he said. "But he would say, 'I'm good. Let's hit it.' "
Mac, 50, had been hospitalized at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. A few years ago, he disclosed that he suffered from sarcoidosis, a rare autoimmune disease that causes inflammation in tissue, most often in the lungs.
Jeremy Suarez, who played Mac's TV nephew in " The Bernie Mac Show," called Mac a mentor.
"He was one of the greatest role models in my life. . . . Working with Bernie wasn't like going to work. It was like going to school for comedy," he said.
The service was brought home by Rev. Trunell Felder of New Faith Baptist Church International, who delivered the eulogy. He talked about Mac's private struggle with sarcoidosis and called him a "gladiator of gladness."
"Bernie Mac gave us the gift of authenticity," he said. "You don't get authenticity too often in entertainment, in politics or, unfortunately, in the pulpit. Isn't it great that God put someone on this earth who wasn't afraid to be himself?"
The family requests that donations be made at www.berniemacfoundation.org, which aims to find a cure for sarcoidosis.
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