At a ceremony that was at once upbeat and poignant, Houstonians gathered on April 19 at the steps of City Hall to pay their respects to former first lady Barbara Bush for a celebration of her life.
The event included remarks by Rev. William Lawson, founding pastor of Wheeler Baptist Church, Samuel Karff, rabbi emeritus of Congregation Beth Israel, and Archbishop Joseph Fiorenza, of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston.
There was also a presentation of flags, and a performance by the Houston Children's Chorus.
Attendees were encouraged to wear blue, the former first lady’s favorite color, and pearls as a tribute. The crowd was a diverse mix of young and old; the unifying theme was reverence and appreciation.
“We weren’t going to miss this for anything,” says Deborah Blanton. “She represented pride of country and a bygone era. We loved her, and we loved her literacy program. She just gave so much to Houston, and to our country.”
An emotional Amal Afra shared a foreigner’s perspective and adoration for the Bush family, especially Barbara. “I’ve been here for 49 years, and I’m crying — this is very moving. She represented everything that’s great about America,” says Afra.
“She represented family, love for country, and love for our children. She had the highest ethics and standards, and she was never fake. We Houstonians love and admire her — she was so down-to-earth. The Bushes changed America, and they changed Houston. We owe them so much.”
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With reporting by Jacob Power
A young Houstonian listens attentively to the service.
