Funeral service for Lisa Marie Presley – “November Rain” played as a farewell

They all came to bid her farewell…

On Sunday morning (local time) the public funeral service for the recently deceased Lisa Marie Presley († 54) took place in the front yard of Graceland, the Presley family estate in Memphis, Tennessee. The singer was the only child of the legendary King of Rock’n’RollElvis Presley († 42).

Hundreds of people lined up along the driveway to the family villa early in the morning to pay their last respects to Lisa Marie. Elvis’ “Amazing Grace” blared out of the loudspeakers and many of the guests could not hold back their tears.

A large tent with a stage for the invited guests had been erected in the front yard days earlier, and the property had been decorated with numerous flowers.

Terry Sage and Bridget Sherman traveled all the way from Brentwood, California: “I knew Lisa Marie personally, she was the warmest and loveliest person. I still can’t believe she died,” Sherman said through tears.

Lisa Marie was very involved in charitable work and above all supported mothers who had also lost a child. “This is her legacy. To help and be there for others,” says Terry Sage.

In 2020, Lisa Marie’s son Benjamin Keough († 27) committed suicide.

The memorial service began with “Amazing Grace” performed by Jason Clark & ​​the Tennessee Mass Choir.

Producer Joel Weinshanker, who delivered the opening speech, explained that Lisa Marie had previously expressed her wishes and ideas.

“Don’t make it sad,” she said, he explained while fighting back tears, adding that Graceland is the “eternal home” of Elvis and Lisa Marie.

Among the invited mourners were Lisa Marie’s mother Priscilla Presley (77), her three daughters and actor Austin Butler (31), who was accompanied by his girlfriend, model Kaia Gerber (21, daughter of Cindy Crawford, 56).

“Thank you all for being here,” said Lisa Marie Presley’s mother, Priscilla Presley. “Our hearts are broken Lisa and we love you all.”

AC Wharton, the former mayor of Memphis, said in his speech that “1968 was a tough year” – the year Martin Luther King Jr. († 39) was assassinated – but the same year with the birth of Lisa Marie ” a bright, radiant light” upon the world.

“Lisa Marie was all Memphis. She was ours and we were hers,” he said. “We saw her handle the weight of fame and the weight of sorrow. Today we celebrate their love. We hug her family. And we recognize the strength and sheer power, the sheer willpower it took Lisa to keep climbing.”

Then Billy Corgan (55), frontman of the Smashing Pumpkins, played “To Sheila”.

There were other musical performances by Guns’n’Roses singer Axl Rose (60), who played the ballad “November Rain” on the piano, and singer Alanis Morissette (48).

Following the memorial service, mourners and fans were able to join a procession that was followed by friends and family.

The funeral took place on Saturday evening. Only the closest family members and friends attended.

In addition to Elvis, his parents Vernon and Gladys and grandmother Minnie Mae are also buried at Graceland, as is Lisa Marie’s son Benjamin Keough, who took his own life in July 2020.

Her family asked that a donation be made to Elvis Presley’s charitable foundation in lieu of flowers. The organization supports several groups in the Memphis area that focus primarily on arts, education, and children’s programs.

Her death was unexpected

Lisa Marie Presley died unexpectedly last Thursday at the age of 54.

Two days earlier she had attended the Golden Globes Awards with her mother Priscilla, where Austin Butler was honored for his title role in the movie “Elvis”. There she seemed visibly battered.

The singer and mother of four died after suffering cardiac arrest twice last week. She is survived by her three daughters, Riley, 33, and twins, Finley and Harper, 14.