BALTIMORE _ The silence inside the church where Elijah Cummings worshiped for nearly 40 years was total, broken only by commands to an honor guard that unfolded a U.S. flag over the casket of the late congressman. Mourners were on their feet Friday for the beginning of the service at New Psalmist Baptist Church, waiting, listening, watching.
After an "Amen," from Bishop Walter S. Thomas Sr., the choir led mourners in the opening hymn, "The Church's One Foundation."
Cummings' widow, Maya Rockeymoore Cummings, was flanked in the front row by former presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton.
The mood was one of sadness, mixed with buoyancy, as people prepared to celebrate Cummings, who died Oct. 17.
The crowd roared and the music swelled as Hillary Clinton entered, followed by the two former presidents as well as current presidential hopeful Joe Biden.
Obama quietly shook hands with guests in the front row as Bill Clinton, warming to the spotlight, smiled and offered multiple warm hugs.
Also among those planning to speak are U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, presidential hopeful Elizabeth Warren, and former NAACP leader and Maryland congressman Kweisi Mfume. All are Democrats.
Former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton kicked off the celebration of praise and remembrance, getting a full round of applause as she was introduced and approached the podium.
"It is no coincidence, is it, that Elijah Cummings shared a name with an Old Testament prophet?" Hillary Clinton said. "Like the prophet, our Elijah could call down fire from heaven. But he also prayed and worked for healing."
Without mentioning any elected leaders by name, Hillary Clinton said: "The American people want to live their lives without fear of their leaders."
There was something like a quietly celebratory mood as, one by one, Cummings' supporters, friends, constituents and distant admirers _ all in dark mourning attire _ came together out of the gloom beginning more than three hours before officials would let them inside.
It was chilly and still dark when members of the general public began arriving to line up in front of the church. Many who showed up so early described deeply their deeply personal connections with Cummings, whether through knowing him or being familiar with his work in the community.
Janet Bailey of Baltimore was the first to arrive _ at 4:30 a.m. _ and described how the congressman had not only helped with community projects but had repeatedly reached out to help her family
He was instrumental in securing a congressional scholarship for her son to attend the University of Maryland Eastern Shore, she said, and assisted her in getting child-support payments after her divorce.
"You talk about a civil servant. He cared. And he was no wimp. He spoke his mind about what mattered to him. He will be missed."
Susan Cranston of Mount Washington arrived a little later, a folding chair in hand, prepared to set up shop for the next three hours if necessary.
Cranston, 70, said she grew up with Cummings and knew him and his family well through their common membership at historic Mt. Moriah Baptist Church.
She said the Cummings kids were unusually well-behaved and thoughtful, and even then it was clear that Elijah was going to become some kind of servant to others.
'His whole family was like that _ very compassionate people. They were the kind of people who taught you never to forget you roots, and Elijah didn't."
Karen Thompson-Braden, who wore a black hat emblazoned with the logo of Delta Sigma Theta, her old college sorority, knew Cummings for years through her work as president of the Grove Park Improvement Association. She remembered how he was not only "instrumental" in the group's work but also intervened when an elementary school teacher in her part of the city was reported to be treating minority students unfairly.
He managed to get some of the children transferred to a different class, she said.
She often had the chance to meet with him and joked with him about all the Baltimore issues he had yet to solve, she said.
When a police motorcade arrived, light flashing, with the hearse bearing Cummings' body following behind, she edged closer to the curb to get a better view. When the hearse parked, and a light from inside it illuminated his flag-draped coffin, she grew emotional.
"This makes it so real," she said. "I won't be able to kid or joke with Elijah any more."
Inside, the congressman's body was positioned in an open casket near the stage as mourners quietly proceeded down a center aisle and paused to pay their respects. Cummings lay in the open casket in a dark suit, arms folded in front of him. The casket was surrounded by flowers and cordoned off by ropes.
Organ music, accompanied by a large choir, was playing and seven images of Cummings were positioned on above the stage.
Mourners at the wake were shown a video of the congressman _ appearing with Obama and Bill Clinton, speaking forcefully from the committee he chaired, and images of him as a child. Mourners applauded from their seats during a clip of Cummings speaking on behalf of migrant children
With the church finally filled to capacity, the audience stood as the church organist played the "Star-Spangled Banner." And the massive choir sang a stirring/soaring version of Battle Hymn of the Republic, to the first applause of the morning.
