Rev. Dr. Calvin Butts honored during powerful funeral service at Abyssinian Baptist Church in Harlem
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NEW YORK -- Friday marked a final goodbye for Rev. Dr. Calvin Butts III.
A viewing and funeral were held at the Abyssinian Baptist Church, where he led for decades.
Six faithful servants carried the body of Rev. Dr. Calvin Butts out of Abyssinian Baptist Church, the place he called home for decades.
Inside the church, every seat was taken and every eye filled with tears for what can best be described as a celebration of life.
The reverend's wife and children sat together, as a who's who of political leaders spoke to his character and his legacy.
"Today we salute and show up a man we loved, a man we admire," former president Bill Clinton said.
"You can always count on Pastor Butts to be honest. Pastor Butts was a truth teller," Sen. Chuck Schumer said.
"There is a hole in my heart that I don't think will heal for a long time," Mayor Eric Adams said.
But perhaps the most touching words came from the reverend's young grandsons.
"To most people he was Reverend Doctor Calvin Butts, but to us, he was just Papa," grandson Alex Butts said. "He was an amazing grandfather. He would tell us to do our best, do well in school and look presentable when going out."
"He gave so much and for someone who gave so much, you must think to yourself, when will he rest? When will he get, not give? Although we are in a mourning time, I must, I am comforted by the fact that I know he is at rest," grandson Calvin Otis Butts V said.
The pearls of wisdom Rev. Butts passed along every Sunday fueled the hours-long line of community leaders and congregants who spoke of his magnetic ability to encourage and inspire.
"I feel loss, but I also feel strength. I feel encouraged. I know who he would want me to be and how he would want me to show up for the community," church member Sandra Maldonado told CBS2's Jessica Moore.
Butts joined the church in 1972 as a youth minister and quickly endeared himself to thousands of congregants and the community.
"His ministry did not stop at the door. Economic development, educational opportunity, political inquiry, you name it, Butts was doing it. He spent 50 years here," Rev. Dr. Marvin McMickle said.
"It kind of matched, I mean, of course the church matches Reverend Butts's personality. He was humorous, he was caring, he was stern when he needed to be, so it was a great service," parishioner Arlene Wilcox said.
Church leaders say Butts knew the end was near for him, and he himself played a key role in planning his celebration of life so that it would be carried out exactly the way he wanted it to be.
Watch the full funeral service
Over 1,000 people wait in line to attend Rev. Butts' homegoing celebration
The love for Rev. Dr. Calvin Butts came through in the stories shared by church members attending the service Friday.
As CBS2's Jessi Mitchell reports, the line wrapped around the block with more than 1,000 people hoping to get a seat to the celebration. Organizers of the event planned every detail to ensure Butts got the send-off he deserved.
The culmination of the celebration of life for Butts brought out generations of Abyssinian members patiently waiting to say farewell.
In his final months, Butts had a hand in his own plan.
"That's not easy to accept and deal with when you see someone declining and stuff, but it do give you time to prepare and be able to accept what's getting ready to happen," said Rodney Anderson, with the homegoing celebration staff.
Church members came prepared to wait for hours for a seat, like Cecil Mullins, who brought his own.
"He looks very good. I already viewed the body and everything, he looks great, but we're going to miss him greatly in this community," he said.
Church members agree Butts' presence is irreplaceable.
"Once you left out of here, you just felt renewed, you know, like spiritually renewed. That's why I kept coming back. So to honor him, I'm here standing on line for about three, four hours just to say goodbye and happy journey," church member Karen Shockness said.
Shockness joined Abyssinian the first time she heard Butts speak, connecting with his dedication to education.
"He was my savior in regards to being a school social worker in an urban school. So hearing the word from him on a Sunday was my, was my food for surviving the school week, seeing about 100 kids for counseling and therapy," she said.
Chaplain Robert Rice, NYPD clergy liaison, remembers Butts praying over him as a kid growing up in Harlem. He now responds to neighborhood shootings to pray with families.
"Me and him had a conversation before he passed away about the crisis with gun violence, the senseless shootings that's been happening, and he was always encouraging me to continue this fight," Rice said.
From educating kids to building homes for the neighborhood, the inspiring efforts of Butts reverberate through the community and return to him in appreciation.
"When you do work, it comes back tenfold, and this is why everybody is doing what they're doing for him because he did what he could for everybody," Anderson said.
This Sunday, as the fanfare fades, healing continues at Abyssinian as the congregation looks to a future without their beloved leader.
Butts honored in powerful service at Abyssinian Baptist Church
For half a century, Rev. Dr. Calvin Butts called Harlem's Abyssinian Baptist Church home. He rose to pastor and became one of the most influential religious leaders in the region, but his impact extended far beyond.
As CBS2's Elijah Westbrook reports, Butts' funeral was truly what you would call a celebration of life.
From the start, the cathedral choir began the service with songs of glory, praise and worship before Bible scriptures resembling the reverend's life were read.
Before it all started, an overwhelming number of people waited in line for hours, gathering outside Abyssinian Baptist Church for the reverend's funeral. Some arrived even before the sun came up, not wanting to risk the opportunity to pay their respects to a man who they say has done a great deal for the community.
"One thing about him is that even though he was so great, he was humble and he cared about the congregation," said church member Sandra Allen-Lesbieu.
"I will always love Reverend Butts. It'll never be the same without him. He will be greatly, dearly missed," church member Marian Langley said.
The reverend's family, including his wife and children, sat together, listening to the numerous people who spoke out about his life and legacy.
"Today, we salute and show up a man we loved, a man we admire," said former president Bill Clinton.
"You could always count on Pastor Butts to be honest. Pastor Butts was a truth teller," Sen. Chuck Schumer said.
"There's a hole in my heart that I don't think will heal for a long time," Mayor Eric Adams said.
"That light did not go out. Calvin Butts would want us to rekindle that light," Gov. Kathy Hochul said.
Calvin Otis Butts III was born July 19, 1949. He graduated from Flushing High School before earning a degree at Morehouse.
He joined the Abyssinian Baptist Church in 1972 as a youth minister, rising to pastor and later to political kingmaker.
In the twilight of his life and fighting his final battle, many say he still fought the good fight.
"He was our pastor. He was our councilor. He was my father in ministry," Rev. Eboni Marshall Turman said.
From Butts' congregation to elected leaders, the overwhelming impact he leaves behind was certainly not unnoticed.
"He loved this church. He loved the arts and always supported them, which is why Courtney and I get to stand here today and do a poem," actress LaTanya Richardson Jackson said, before actor Courtney B. Vance read "I, Too" by Langston Hughes.
Butts indeed was the people's pastor. He was just 73 years old when he passed away last week from complications of pancreatic cancer.
Hundreds of mourners pay respects at wake for Rev. Butts ahead of homegoing celebration
Mourners are preparing to say goodbye to Rev. Dr. Calvin Butts III Friday afternoon in a celebration of life ceremony.
Hundreds of parishioners and members of the community have been paying their respects at a wake all morning.
An overwhelming number of people have been gathering at Abyssinian Baptist Church for the reverend's funeral, some getting here even before the sun came up, not wanting to risk the opportunity to pay their respects to a man who they say has done a great deal for the community.
"I don't know how we're going to replace such a man," said church member Sandra Allen-Lesbieu.
Allen-Lesbieu sings in the choir at Abyssnian and has been doing so since 1960. When Rev. Butts joined the church in the early '70s, she told Westbrook was amazed by his leadership and how personable he was.
"One thing about him is that even though he was so great, he was humble, and he cared about the congregation," she said.
She's part of hundreds of people Friday morning who lined the sidewalk of Odell Clark Place, where the historic church stands. They watched as the hearse carrying the casket for Rev. Butts was slowly driven down the block. Pallbearers brought he casket out and into the church, step by step.
"I am glad to be able to come out," one person said.
Walking down the street, Westbrook couldn't help but notice the enthusiasm people had when they spoke about the impact Rev. Butts left on the community.
"I will always love Reverend Butts. It will never be the same without him. He will be greatly, dearly missed," said church member Marian Langley.
"I loved him because whenever you seen him, he was speaking and doing for everything," another church member said.
Calvin Otis Butts III was born July 19, 1949. He graduated from Flushing High School before earning a degree at Morehouse. He joined the Abyssinian Church in 1972 as a youth minister, rising to pastor, later to political kingmaker. In the twilight of his life, and fighting his final battle, many say he still fought the good fight.
Rev. Butts indeed was the people's pastor. He was just 73 years old.
The line for Friday afternoon's funeral kept growing, once again showing the impact he's leaving on so many people.
Services are expected to begin at 2 p.m.
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Hundreds line up for his viewing
The line wrapped around the block Thursday, as hundreds came out to show love and support and say their goodbyes to the reverend. It just goes to show the impact, whether big or small, he had on so many church members.
"He enriched my life. My spirit has to be here today because he gave me something money can't buy," Peggy Benjamin said.
Throughout his 50 years of service to the Harlem community, thousands of followers looked to Butts as a shining example of leadership and devotion to the Lord.
"He just was receptive to the Black community, especially in Harlem. He loved Harlem," one person said.
Charles Grayson became a member at Abyssinian the first time her heard Butts speak. He was among the first in line to say farewell.
"I fell in love with the church and I fell in love with him, because he was a very nice pastor," he said.
Sonia Joy Robinson-Dyer hasn't missed a Sunday service in 33 years.
"This pastor taught me a lot, and most importantly, taught me about walking in that faith," she said.
She said her final visit with the pastor gave more comfort than sadness.
"For me, it was peace. Seeing him at peace brought peace to me," she said.
Anthony Mills and his wife Diane Richards met in the church. They wanted to stand together before the pastor one last time.
"We just stood there and said thank you for being the light that attracted us. Powerful, powerful brother," he said.
"It was like a blessing for us to continue to stay married and walk in faith," she added.
In his 73 years of life, Butts built a legacy of both leading and serving simultaneously, showing how one individual can impact an entire community.
"I know if there is a God that's as good as we say he is, then he's pleased with you for what you represented," said Mills.
"He's still within my heart. No matter what, as long as I live, he's still with me," Walt Frazier said. "That gentleman will never die in the church or in the community. One of a kind."
The reverend passed away exactly a week ago due to pancreatic cancer.
