Ali had Parkinson’s Disease for decades.
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Former President Bill Clinton will be among those eulogizing late boxing legend Muhammad Ali Friday at a service in Ali’s hometown of Louisville, Kentucky. The church features a painting by Ali’s father, Cassius Clay Sr., and isn’t far from the pink house where the boxing champion grew up. Photo credit should read PA/PA Wire.
His funeral will take place in his home town of Louisville, Kentucky, on Friday, where flags have been flying at half-mast since his death was announced.
Since the time of his death, his daughter Hana Ali has shared a few touching tributes to her father that provide an inside look as to how he was as a family man.
“No one had ever seen anything like it. A true testament to the strength of his Spirit and Will!”
Imam Syed Soharwardy said he organized the Calgary service because Ali was part of the global Muslim family and was a great ambassador for the religion.
He says he was taught more about life outside the ring from the former heavyweight champion. My mother and father were sweet, good people, and he came from good stock.
“He was one of the most honourable, kindest men to live on this planet”, his brother said while greeting mourners at their childhood home, recently renovated and turned into a museum.
Though he did not mention the US Republican presidential hopeful by name, Ali said Muslims “have to stand up to those who use Islam to advance their own personal agenda”.
Derek Penwell said the world lost a voice that said “love in spite of fear is the greatest expression of power that human beings can muster”.
“I’m going to miss his friendship, his happiness, his telling jokes, and just enjoying being around people”.
Known as much for his political activism as his boxing brilliance, tributes have flooded in from sports stars and admirers around the world.
“It’s not about who they are, it’s about the fact that we just don’t have room on the program for them”, Gunnell said, adding that their representatives were “gracious and understood” when informed.
US President Barack Obama paid a glowing tribute to him, saying the boxer “shook up the world and the world is better for it”.
“Muhammad Ali was The Greatest”.
“Each time one of us leaves, I tell everybody: Muhammad Ali, Joe Frazier, George Foreman, we were really just one guy”, Foreman told the Press Association.
“Ali’s got a left, Ali’s got a right – when he knocks you down, you’ll sleep for the night; and when you lie on the floor and the ref counts to ten, hope and pray that you never meet me again”.
For years, the plan was to have Ali’s body lie in repose at the Muhammad Ali Center in Louisville, Gunnell said. The procession will end at Cave Hill cemetery for a private family ceremony.
Rahaman Ali took center stage at the two-hour service at King Solomon Missionary Baptist Church, sitting in a front-row pew with his wife, Caroline. Centre in Louisville at 2pm on Friday.
Also on Sunday, interfaith services were held at Louisville’s Islamic Center in Ali’s honour.
“Muhammad Ali belongs to the world, but he only has one hometown”, Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer said Saturday. The other half was committed to sharing a message of people and inclusion with the world.
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“I didn’t know that he continued to follow my work; I certainly followed him, what he was doing and the courage he did it with”, Lerner said.
