Miss. Remembers Steve McNair at Funeral

Thousands Turn Out for Farewell to Murdered Quarterback, Praised as Mentor

(AP)  Thousands turned out to say goodbye to Steve McNair Saturday and give the ex-NFL quarterback one of the biggest funerals in recent Mississippi history.

"We're going to have church this morning, and we're going to praise God for Steve's life," said gospel singer Dottie Peoples, a close friend of McNair's mother, Lucille.

At least 4,500 turned out, though organizers anticipated a capacity crowd of 8,000 at Reed Green Coliseum on the campus of the University of Southern Mississippi.

Most of McNair's hometown of Mount Olive also arrived thanks to buses rented by the McNairs, and hundreds came out Friday night for a visitation. A private burial was to follow in Mount Olive.

The hearse carrying McNair's casket arrived a couple of hours before the funeral, escorted 30 miles down Highway 49 by nine police officers on motorcycles and several vehicles carrying family members.

A line outside the coliseum snaked down the sidewalk as early as 8 a.m., even with temperatures quickly rising into the low 90s on a humid day.

The hearse backed up next to the playing floor to deliver McNair's silvery-gray casket. Police escorted McNair's wife, Mechelle, and his mother, Lucille, into the stadium beforehand.

Brett Favre, who had a home near McNair's here in Hattiesburg, sat a few rows behind the McNair family. Titans coach Jeff Fisher and quarterback Vince Young, Baltimore linebacker Ray Lewis and Chicago quarterback Jay Cutler also attended. Doug Williams, the first black quarterback to win the Super Bowl, also was on hand.

Young was added to the service late, and the quarterback drafted by Tennessee to replace McNair in 2006 called his predecessor "Pops" - remembering how McNair served as his mentor since Young attended one of the man's football camps as a teenager.

"Steve was like a hero to me, and heroes are not supposed to die," Young said before stopping to rub his eyes.

Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones was among those who sent flowers. Titans owner Bud Adams attended the memorial service Thursday night in Nashville. Fisher was called up to speak from the audience, and he pulled Young up to the podium and led the audience in the Lord's Prayer just as he did during 11 seasons with McNair before every kickoff.

McNair was shot and killed on the Fourth of July by Sahel Kazemi, a 20-year-old girlfriend who then shot herself in the head.

The funeral program included memories from McNair's mother, his wife and sons, brothers, and nieces and nephews. Photos were also displayed of the quarterback who played 13 NFL seasons with Tennessee and Baltimore before retiring in 2008.

Coach Nevil Barr brought the entire jersey-clad Oak Grove High School football team to the service. Steve McNair Jr. attends Oak Grove, and his father joined Favre at a summer workout two weeks ago to play catch with the kids.

"He was on our sideline every Friday night supporting his son," Barr said. "He loved to come watch Steve Jr., and we loved having him there. He always had that smile."

Deloris Cagins traveled from nearby Columbia to attend the funeral. She wore the purple and gold of McNair's alma mater, Alcorn State, and had a pompom tied to her walker. She has relatives who eventually joined her beloved Braves, where McNair made a Heisman Trophy run and set a number of NCAA Division I-AA records before going third overall in the NFL draft in 1995 to the then-Houston Oilers.

"Alcornites to me are a different breed of people," she said. "It's like a family. If you do something, we'll support you."

[SickofCrime]

He was a "mentor"? LOL!

[ahrats]

Yes he is a mentor as a quaterback, tough, hard working, but as a person he leaves something not to aspire too. Wife beater, wife cheater, and now dead celibrity. Why did He not divorce his wife if he was going to mess around with other women and he paid the price of it. Stokey Carmichel siad it best in the DC Cab movie "Dont' let your d*** run your life".

[nopucker]

I guess his wife wouldn't shine his helmet anymore...

[rambleingtree]

awh nopucker, how long did it take you to come up with that little comment. Hope it didn't strain your little brain cell too much.

[patasha]

My prayer goes out to the family. I see it like this, if God can forgive him, who are we to judge. No one knows the real story and all that was involved. To the family: Don't allow the response of the most ignorant people in the world to move or shake you. Trust me, God has a way of dealing with the racist, those that judge and those that speak evil from their lips. The best way to respond to evil is to shut the devil up with praise and worship. Never let the enemy see you sweat. To the wife: Feel the pain and then release it to God. Cover your children with prayer and pray against anything or anyone that would try to attach itself to them and cause more harm. I am praying for you and your family.

[didserve]

this guy should have been a republican!

his girlfriend dead

what does his wife have to say? or is she too busy cashing in?

what a role model!

[patasha]

that was not cool at all. think before you speak.

[rbstrcklnd]

Poor little victim.

[nonewsisgoodnews]

Guess what? Negroes live in America and will die in America. If you have had enough, move to North Korea!

[patasha]

They are not victims, they are victorious!

[LouisianaGurl]

Michelle McNair you hold you head up high despite what people might say, be strong for your children they need you more than ever at this moment!!

[LouisianaGurl]

I am praying for the family at this hard time in their lives. Just remember that God does not put no more on you than you can handle. Keep god first and he will see you through this all.

[kanyuek]

You will always be remembered as a lightening rod for Nashville !

[tautomer]

Yeah, I remember Steve. He was just a regular good guy. He enjoyed his poozy on the side as much as the next guy. Steve always made me laugh, He had a game he'd play called "How Many Today". Basically, we'd all sit around and guess how many chicks Steve had screwed besides his wife that day! It was a hoot.

Yeah we'll miss good ol' Steve. He was great guy, a FAMILY guy,he was....Our guy!!!!

[patasha]

You are a really sick and twisted nut! How dare you put something like this after a family has been torn apart. Personally, I think your lying and you just need psychiatric help. You are such an idiot and extremely ignorant. Grow up and get a life.

[carolhill814]

I care because another humanbeing has been killed for no reason but because but he had no right doing this horrible act to his wife and children no they are going to live with the stain of what he was doing.
No matter if black or white all men and women who do this to their spouse should be put in jail in this country that was consider a crime. I don't know what happened but it did happen.
The only I feel badly for are his children because they are going to hurt by what he did not only emotionaly but physically because they loved their dad and he is no longer here for them.
Over all I am very angry at him because he hurt is innocent children.

[tautomer]

No matter if black or white all men and women who do this to their spouse should be put in jail in this country that was consider a crime...
____________________________________________________________________

Yeah that's a great idea!!!! Let's put McNair in Jail!!! With logic like that, I'll bet you voted for Obama!!!

[barnesd3104]

Just want to say to the family of Steve Mcnair, continue to love everybody. People will say negative things out of their own hurts in this life. Remember, God loves you even though he allowed this unthinkable thing to happen. Please pray that God will see you through this as I know he will. To Mechelle, all things work together for the good of those who love God. I am personally praying for you. This will pass, just continue to ask God to give you strength, he will.

[exaf74]

Forgot to add; those who play always pay! (Wow, I'm a poet & did'nt know it!).

[keyingdemon]

I'm sad to hear about this but not surprised. As with many "pro players" he was married but chose to CHEAT on his wife and with an obviously unstable woman. She killed him for it. One can only wonder what would have happened to him had he stayed faithful. I do know he'd still be alive.

[noirviolette]

Thanks for all the great memories of your football career.Peace and love to Steve's family.

[exaf74]

As with Michael Jackson.....WHO CARES???????????????

[barnesd3104]

I care and there are others who care too!

[MPHgrad]

Well, one who comments apparently cares enough to do so. I certainly care. This man has done wonderful things for disenfranchised communities and the people of those community are better for him.