Procession Honoring John Lewis Includes Stops in Troy, Selma and Montgomery

Montgomery, Ala. - Governor Kay Ivey announced earlier today that Representative John Lewis will be honored across Alabama this weekend. The life of Lewis will be celebrated in his birthplace of Troy, then in Selma and Montgomery.

Lewis will lie in repose in the Trojan Arena at Troy University on Saturday, July 25 from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., following a service that will commemorate his Alabama roots. The historic Brown Chapel A.M.E. Church in Selma will hold a private memorial for Rep. Lewis at 6:00 p.m. on July 25, and he will then lie in repose from 8:00 pm to 11:00 p.m. Both events are open to the public and attendees are required to wear masks. On Sunday, July 26, a processional will travel from Brown Chapel across the Edmund Pettus Bridge in homage to his role in the Selma to Montgomery March, also known as Bloody Sunday. Following a receiving ceremony at the front entrance to the Alabama State Capitol, Lewis will lie in state at the Capitol from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. This viewing is also open to the public and face masks and mouth coverings are required.

Lewis will lie in state at the U.S. Capitol on Monday, July 27 and Tuesday, July 28 before returning to Atlanta where additional ceremonies will be held on Wednesday July 29. He will be interned after a final celebration of life at Atlanta's Ebenezer Baptist Church on Thursday, July 30.

Flags across the Alabama were ordered to be flown at half-staff from Saturday through Monday. Governor Ivey made a statement that included the following:

“As we prepare to lay Congressman Lewis to rest, we are honored to welcome him home to Alabama to sit overlooking Dexter Avenue as he lies in state in the Alabama State Capitol. Let us remember the life and longstanding public service of Rep. Lewis. As a pioneer of the Civil Rights Movement, he is a proud son of Alabama. He dedicated his life to serving his community and advocating for others, during some of the most difficult times in our nation’s history.”

Lewis passed away on July 17 at the age of 80 after a battle with pancreatic cancer.