Gone, but never forgotten. Former President George H. W. Bush will be buried in Texas next to his wife, Barbara Bush, and their daughter, Robin, following a service on Thursday. The 41st president's funeral will be held at St. Martin's Episcopal Church in Houston. The service will feature a lineup of performers and speakers as well.
Bush died at 94 on November 30 at his home in Houston. He suffered from vascular parkinsonism, which is a form of Parkinson's disease. The medical condition affects mobility, and the former president used a motorized wheelchair in his later years. His wife, Barbara, died in April from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
Bush 41's funeral will be held at 11 a.m. EST (10 a.m. CST). A full program has been released ahead of the service. Here's who will be participating on Thursday:
Eulogists
- The Honorable James A. Baker, III
- The Honorable George Prescott Bush, Texas Land Commissioner
Singers
- The Oak Ridge Boys will sing "Amazing Grace."
- Ms. Reba McEntire will sing "The Lord's Prayer."
Readers
- Marshall Lloyd Bush (Lamentations 3:22 - 26, 31 - 33)
- Barbara Pierce Bush, Noelle Lucila Bush and Elizabeth Dwen Andrews (Psalm 23, two verses each)
- Georgia Grace Koch and Nancy Ellis LeBlond Sosa (1 Corinthians 12:31b - 13:13)
Honorary Pallbearers
- The Honorable George Prescott Bush
- Mr. John Ellis Bush, Jr.
- Mr. Pierce Mallon Bush
- Mr. Charles Walker Bush
- Mr. Samuel Bush LeBlond
- Mr. Robert Daniel Koch
- Mr. Robert Pace Andrews, II
- Mr. Thomas Alexander Andrews
The Oak Ridge Boys have performed for Bush on many occasions. Prior to his death, the country group was asked by the former president to sing at his funeral.
"President Bush means so much to us," The Oak Ridge Boys' Richard Sterban said, according to USA Today. "George Bush requested before he passed away that we sing 'Amazing Grace,' his favorite song, at his funeral. There's no way we wouldn't do it. He always taught us to do the right thing, and it is a tremendous honor."
A service for Bush was first held in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday. It was attended by Barack and Michelle Obama, Hillary and Bill Clinton, and Melania and President Donald Trump. Bush 41's eldest child, former President George W. Bush, mourned his father with an emotional speech.
"So, through our tears, let us see the blessings of knowing and loving you—a great and noble man, and the best father a son or daughter could have," he said. "And in our grief, let us smile knowing that Dad is hugging Robin and holding Mom's hand again."
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