Thousands Celebrate the Life of Bernie Mac

A week after Bernie Mac's death of pneumonia at age 50, celebrities joined his family and friends to celebrate his life at a funeral held in Chicago. Among the guests were DL Hughley, Steve Harvey, and Cedric the Entertainer, the other Original Kings of Comedy, who had known Mac since the beginning of his career. E! reported that the trio approached their speeches with a lighthearted sense of humor, and while they cried, they managed to crack a few jokes as well. Cedric reportedly called Mac's funeral "the hottest ticket in town." According to the AP, there were over 6,000 guests present, many of whom were strangers that felt connected to him because he had always stayed close and proud of his upbringing on the South Side of Chicago. In keeping with his love for that city, Mac was honored by Mayor Richard Daley, and Illinois Senator Barack Obama sent a letter to be read at the funeral.

Before his death, Mac had completed the filming of his movie, Soul Men, which costars Samuel L. Jackson and Isaac Hayes. Hayes died last Sunday, one day after Mac. The AP reported that Hayes's music was played during the ceremony in his remembrance.