Sherman Hemsley funeral to be held Wednesday in Texas

Funeral services will be held Wednesday in El Paso, Texas, for actor Sherman Hemsley, who died in July but an estate fight delayed his burial.

San Jose Funeral Home in El Paso has announced Hemsley's funeral will be at at Cielo Vista Church at noon on Wednesday.

Burial will follow at Fort Bliss National Cemetery. Funeral home officials say the services are open to the public.

Hemsley served in the Air Force before turning to acting and gaining fame as George Jefferson on the TV sitcom "The Jeffersons," which ran for 11 seasons from 1975-1985. He died of lung cancer on July 24, at the age of 74.

Hemsley's will named his longtime friend Flora Enchinton Bernal as his heir. His half-brother from Philadelphia, Richard Thornton, challenged the will.

A judge in El Paso on Nov. 9 ruled the will is valid.