Rev. Jesse Jackson returns home to South Carolina to lie in state

After a long career of fighting for civil rights, the Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr. is visiting his home for one last time to lie in state at the South Carolina Capitol on Monday.

The final full honors from the state where he was born is a far cry from his childhood in segregated Greenville, where in 1960 he couldn't go inside the local library's much better funded whites-only branch to check out a book he needed.

Jackson led seven Black high school students into that segregated branch, where they sat down and read books and magazines until they were arrested. The branches closed, then quietly reopened for all.

With that action, Jackson launched his career —- and crusade —- fighting for equality for all. He would catch the attention of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and join the voting rights march King led from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama.

Jackson died Feb. 17 at age 84 after battling a rare neurological disorder that affected his mobility and ability to speak in his later years.

His casket draped in an American flag arrived at the South Carolina Statehouse on a horse drawn caisson on a chilly, cloudy morning. A special white-gloved Highway Patrol honor guard brought Jackson inside the Statehouse and to the second floor where well over 100 people packed under the rotunda for a ceremony before the public would be invited in to pay their respects.

"Today we're here to celebrate a life well lived, a job well done," said Democratic state Rep. Jermaine Johnson, who led the ceremony.

The service began with a rousing version of the civil rights anthem "Lift Every Voice and Sing" that reverberated through the Statehouse - a building that was partially destroyed in 1865 during the Civil War started by South Carolina to keep slavery.

Jackson's extended funeral services and public memorials began last week in Chicago, with his body lying in repose for public viewing at Rainbow PUSH Coalition headquarters. 

Hundreds lined up in Chicago to pay their last respects to the civil rights leader. 

Initially, the Jackson family had planned for his body to travel from South Carolina to services in Washington, D.C., but those plans have been postponed until a later date.

After he lies in state in South Carolina, Jackson's body will travel back to Chicago for a large, public celebration of life gathering, and then finally a private homegoing celebration at Rainbow PUSH. 

Jackson continued to be active in his home state, pushing in 2003 for Greenville County to honor King by matching the federal holiday in his honor and in 2015 by advocating for removing the Confederate flag from South Carolina Statehouse grounds after nine Black worshippers were killed in a racist shooting at a Charleston church.

Jackson is just the second Black man to lie in state at the South Carolina Capitol. State Sen. Clementa Pinckney was honored in 2015 after he was shot and killed in the Charleston church shooting.

Rev. Jesse Jackson funeral and celebration of life services schedule 

• Monday, March 2 – Jackson will lie in repose at the South Carolina Statehouse. Following a small private family ceremony inside the Statehouse, the visitation will be open to the public from 11:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m.
• Friday, March 6: The People's Celebration at House of Hope, 752 E. 114th St., Chicago Doors Open: 9 a.m., service: 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
• Saturday, March 7: Private Homegoing Celebration at Rainbow PUSH Coalition. Limited capacity.

A spokesperson for the Jackson family said they will share additional details and information for public registration to attend services soon. They will also share a livestream of the services for the public.

The family asks that all flowers and condolence cards be sent to:

Leak & Sons Funeral Home
7838 S. Cottage Grove Ave.
Chicago, IL 60619