TALLAHASSEE, Florida (AllPolitics, December 16) -- Thousands of mourners said good-bye to Gov. Lawton Chiles on Wednesday, streaming past his flag-draped casket at the Old Capitol.

Afterwards, Vice President Al Gore joined Chiles' family and friends at a church funeral for the governor, who died unexpectedly over the weekend of a heart ailment.

Gore

Gore and other political figures eulogized Chiles at the church, where hundreds of people assembled for the service, which opened with the hymn "A Mighty Fortress is Our God."

The congregation rose to sing, as Chiles' simple pine casket, draped with an American flag, was wheeled up the center aisle.

A graveside service with full military honors for the Korean War veteran, respected Democrat and former U.S. senator was to follow at Roselawn Cemetery.

"He did so much for all of us, and we are here to thank him and remember him," said pastor Glenn Bass of Faith Presbyterian Church. "He walked with us and for us down many paths. The paths that he took were sometimes winding, and they were often untraveled."

Chiles' grandchildren sing 'What a Wonderful World'

During the early part of a funeral service punctuated with laughter, five of Chiles' grandchildren sang a bittersweet version of Louis Armstrong's "What a Wonderful World."

Earlier, the hearse carrying Chiles' body left the old Florida Capitol 45 minutes behind schedule to give a line of mourners one last chance to say good-bye.

Buddy MacKay, who became governor after his longtime friend and two-time running mate died, walked behind the casket as eight national guardsmen carried it down the Capitol steps.

Chiles died of heart disease on Saturday, just 23 days before turning his office over to Republican Gov.-elect Jeb Bush.

On Tuesday, a solemn motorcade carried Chiles' body 200 miles across the Florida Panhandle from the small town of Century to the Old Capitol building in Tallahassee, where military guards watched over his simple pine casket.

He is survived by his wife Rhea and four adult children.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Wednesday, December 16, 1998

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• Thousands say good-bye to Chiles
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• U.S. Rep. Shays holds town meeting on impeachment

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