Billy Graham Dead at 99

The Reverend Billy Graham, one of the most influential religious leaders in American history, has died at the age of 99.

Graham was a stalwart evangelical Christian whose preaching reached millions through television and stadium rallies. He counseled numerous US presidents and was known for his crusades against sin, offering himself as a model of repentance and redemption.

A North Carolina farm boy, Graham rose to national prominence after giving a sermon called "The Brasstown Experience" at the 1949 Mt. Airy Fair. The response was overwhelming, and Graham soon became one of America's most sought-after evangelists.

He developed a close relationship with President Richard Nixon, counseling him during the Watergate scandal and accompanying him on diplomatic trips to China and the Soviet Union. He also became friends with Queen Elizabeth II and Nelson Mandela.

Graham's son Franklin now leads the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, which continues his father's work of spreading the gospel worldwide.

Billy Graham's Funeral: President Trump, Other Notable Figures in Attendance

The funeral for Reverend Billy Graham on Friday was a star-studded event, with President Donald Trump and other notable political and religious figures in attendance.

Graham, who died at the age of 99 last week, was a towering figure in American Christianity, with millions of followers. He preached to crowds of hundreds of thousands in stadiums throughout the U.S., and counseled presidents from Harry Truman to Barack Obama.

Friday's service at the Billy Graham Library in Charlotte, North Carolina, drew a host of dignitaries, including Trump and his wife Melania, Vice President Mike Pence and his wife Karen, as well as House Speaker Paul Ryan and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell.

Graham's son Franklin delivered the main eulogy, describing his father as "America's pastor" and praising him for his steadfast message of salvation through Jesus Christ.

"There were no elaborate procedures or hidden agendas with my father," Franklin Graham said. "He simply believed that Jesus is the only way to know God."

Trump spoke briefly near the end of the service, thanking Graham for his lifetime of service and describing him as "an extraordinary man."

"The Bible tells us that when Billy Graham came to those meetings, he lifted up an ensign pointing to heaven," Trump said. "Today we say goodbye to an American hero who lifted up that very same ensign."

Billy Graham's Son Preaches at His Father's Funeral

The Reverend Franklin Graham, son of the evangelist Billy Graham, preached at his father's funeral on Friday. He began his eulogy with the Bible verse 2 Timothy 4:7, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith."

Graham said that he wished for his father to be remembered as a man who was devoted to Jesus Christ and who had a passion for helping others come to know Him. "My father was not perfect, but he was forgiven and he loved God and people with all of his heart," Graham said.

The Reverend Billy Graham died at the age of 99 on February 21st. He is widely considered to be one of the most influential preachers in American history and had been actively preaching until shortly before his death. In addition to his son Franklin, other speakers at the funeral included President Donald Trump and former presidents George W. Bush and Bill Clinton.

Billy Graham will be Laid to Rest next to His Wife Ruth

The Rev. Billy Graham will be buried next to his wife Ruth, just as he had requested, funeral organizers said Wednesday.

Graham, who died last week at 99, will be buried Friday at the Billy Graham Library in Charlotte, North Carolina. He and Ruth were married for 64 years until she died in 2007.

"It's what he wanted," Graham's son Franklin said of the burial plans. "It was something that my mother and father agreed on many years ago."

Franklin Graham said his father's body will be taken from the family home Thursday to the U.S. Capitol, where he will lie in honor in the Rotunda through Thursday evening. Then he will be flown to Charlotte for the funeral service on Friday.

Billy Graham Museum set to Open After His Death

A museum honoring evangelist Billy Graham is set to open after his death. The $100 million museum will be built in his hometown of Charlotte, North Carolina.

The museum is said to include a replica of the Montreat cabin where Graham lived, as well as a theater, media center, and exhibits on Graham's life and influence.

Graham's son, Franklin, said that the museum would be a tribute to all those who had been touched by his father's ministry.

"My father was so relational with people and he loved families so much he would have been overwhelmed by this museum, because it's all about families coming together and learning about God and themselves through experiencing art and history," Franklin Graham said.

Graham preached in person to more than 215 million people during his lifetime, and his ministry continues even after his death. In December 2017, Franklin Graham announced that the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association would change its name to the Billy Graham Evangelistic Organization in honor of his father.