Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, February 11, 1993 TAG: 9302110094
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: A-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BONNIE V. WINSTON STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: RICHMOND LENGTH: Medium
THOUSANDS BID ASHE FAREWELL
Arthur Ashe, 49, was laid to rest Wednesday in a three-hour funeral celebration of music and memories.Thousands of mourners, many of whom had known Ashe as he grew up in the segregated Richmond that denied his talent, stood in line for hours to stream past his open casket and pay last respects.
While Ashe was a champion on the tennis courts, winning Wimbledon and the U.S. and Australian opens, his achievements went well beyond sports as he fought in retirement for human rights and finally for AIDS awareness.
Those who came to say goodbye Wednesday at the Richmond arena that bears his name were from all those worlds - government and business leaders, former tennis legends and more than 200 members of the Ashe family.
Among them were former Congressman William Gray, now head of the United Negro College Fund; former basketball star and now U.S. Sen. Bill Bradley of New Jersey; Bryant Gumbel of NBC; author Frank DeFord; Washington Mayor Sharon Pratt Kelly; Virginia Supreme Court Justice Leroy Hassell; and U.S. Sen. Charles Robb.
Before the service, Ashe's wife, Jeanne, stood beside the casket, which was nestled among sprays of red roses and fragrant flowers. As thousands watched, she lovingly stroked her husband's hair and rubbed his arm before going to tend to their daughter, Camera, 6.
Choirs from three Richmond churches - all with ties to Ashe and his family - and students from city schools filled the solemnly decorated athletic center with the sound of Baptist hymns and spirituals.
In between, speakers, including some of the country's most revered black leaders - the Rev. Jesse Jackson, former U.N. Ambassador Andrew Young, Commerce Secretary Ron Brown, New York Mayor David Dinkins, anti-apartheid activist Randall Robinson and Gov. Douglas Wilder - talked about Ashe's role on and off the court and the legacy he leaves behind.
"Just eight days ago, [Ashe] gave a speech that some have characterized as his last," Dinkins said. "But I think that judgment is premature, for Arthur Ashe's voice will continue to speak for many years to come through the countless surrogates he adopted during his all-too-brief lifetime.
"He will continue to speak through young people who, thanks to his efforts, find fulfillment through tennis. He will continue to speak through South Africans who, thanks to his dedication, find freedom and opportunity. He will continue to speak through people with AIDS who, thanks to his compassion, find comfort and hope in their darkest hour."