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B.B. King's Funeral Held In His Mississippi Hometown

B.B King Laid To Rest In His Hometown
Rachel McGrath
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B.B. King’s funeral was held in Indianola, Mississippi, following the legendary musician’s death earlier this month.

After a brief period in hospital, the blues legend died in his sleep in Las Vegas, at the of 89, on 14 May.

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Reverend Otis Antony offers prayers

On Saturday, he was laid to rest in Indianola, where, the Chicago Tribune reports, a private viewing of his open casket and invite-only memorial were held, before another service at the Bell Grove Missionary Baptist Church.

The service was attended by over 500 people, and a letter from President Barack Obama was read out, along with many tributes to the star.

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Country star Marty Stuart was among the mourners

Obama’s letter read: “The blues has lost its king and America has lost a legend.

“No one worked harder than B.B. No one did more to spread the gospel of the blues.”

B.B. was buried at the B.B. King Museum and Delta Interpretive Center, and in the coming years, a memorial garden will be built.

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B.B. King

Hundreds of fans, including plenty of celebrities, paid tribute to B.B following his death.

Writing on Twitter, Lenny Kravitz stated: “Anyone could play a thousand notes and never say what you said in one. #RIP #BBKing”

B.B King's Life In Pictures
B.B. King (01 of39)
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(credit:GAB Archive via Getty Images)
Photo of CONCERT POSTERS and BB KING(02 of39)
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(credit:GAB Archive via Getty Images)
Photo of BB KING(03 of39)
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(credit:GAB Archive via Getty Images)
BB King Portrait (04 of39)
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LOS ANGELES - 1951: Blues musician BB King poses for a portrait holding a Fender Telecaster electric guitar in 1951 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images) (credit:Michael Ochs Archives via Getty Images)
BB King(05 of39)
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BB King poses for a studio portrait in 1955 in the United States. He holds a Fender Esquire guitar. (Photo by Gilles Petard/Redferns) (credit:Gilles Petard via Getty Images)
B.B. King RPM Records Portrait(06 of39)
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CIRCA 1957: Blues musician B.B. King poses for a RPM Records portrait in circa 1957. (Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images) (credit:Michael Ochs Archives via Getty Images)
The B.B. King Band With Harold Conner(07 of39)
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CIRCA 1955: The B.B. King Band performs onstage with vocalist Harold Conner in circa 1955. (Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images) (credit:Michael Ochs Archives via Getty Images)
Blues Guitarist And Band Leader(08 of39)
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CIRCA 1952: Blues legend BB King poses for a portrait with band leader Johnny Otis in circa 1952. (Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images) (credit:Michael Ochs Archives via Getty Images)
B.B. King Portrait(09 of39)
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CIRCA 1958: Blues musician BB King poses for a portrait in circa 1958. (Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images) (credit:Michael Ochs Archives via Getty Images)
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B.B. King(12 of39)
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Portrait of American blues guitarist and singer-songwriter B.B. King photographed in the 1960's. Job: 66781 Ref: SSE - Exclusive UK Rights Only (Photo by King Collection/Photoshot/Getty Images) (credit:Photoshot via Getty Images)
Photo of BB KING(13 of39)
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UNSPECIFIED - JANUARY 01: Photo of BB KING; Posed with guitar (Photo by Charlie Gillett/Redferns) (credit:Charlie Gillett Collection via Getty Images)
Photo of BB KING(14 of39)
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UNSPECIFIED - JANUARY 01: Photo of BB KING; Posed headshot, (Photo by Charlie Gillett Collection/Redferns) (credit:Charlie Gillett Collection via Getty Images)
Photo of BB KING(15 of39)
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UNSPECIFIED - JANUARY 01: Photo of BB KING; Posed in dressing room, (Photo by Charlie Gillett Collection/Redferns) (credit:Charlie Gillett Collection via Getty Images)
Photo of BB KING(16 of39)
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UNSPECIFIED - JANUARY 01: Photo of BB KING; Posed with Grammy award, (Photo by Charlie Gillett Collection/Redferns) (credit:Charlie Gillett Collection via Getty Images)
Photo of BB KING(17 of39)
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UNSPECIFIED - JANUARY 01: Photo of BB KING; Posed. Sitting with guitar and cigarette, (Photo by Charlie Gillett Collection/Redferns) (credit:Charlie Gillett Collection via Getty Images)
Photo of BB KING(18 of39)
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UNSPECIFIED - JANUARY 01: Photo of BB KING; Headshot, singing into mic, (Photo by Charlie Gillett Collection/Redferns) (credit:Charlie Gillett Collection via Getty Images)
Blues Singer/Guitarist B.B. King(19 of39)
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CIRCA 1960'S: Blues Singer/Guitarist B.B. King (Riley B. King) performs during a 1960's concert. (Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images) (credit:Michael Ochs Archives via Getty Images)
BB King Performs At The Horizon(20 of39)
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American Blues musician BB King plays guitar as he performs onstage at the Rosemont Horizon, Rosemont, Illinois, June 21, 1980. (Photo by Paul Natkin/Getty Images) (credit:Paul Natkin via Getty Images)
BB King Performs At The Horizon(21 of39)
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American Blues musician BB King plays guitar as he performs onstage at the Rosemont Horizon, Rosemont, Illinois, June 21, 1980. (Photo by Paul Natkin/Getty Images) (credit:Paul Natkin via Getty Images)
B.B. King In Concert(22 of39)
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B.B. King, U.S. guitarist, during a concert, circa 1980. (Photo by David Redfern/Redferns/Getty Images) (credit:David Redfern via Getty Images)
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BB King Performing(33 of39)
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CIRCA 1980: Blues musician B.B. King (Riley B. King) performs onstage with his band and his Gibson hollowbody electric guitar in circa 1980. (Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images) (credit:Michael Ochs Archives via Getty Images)
Ron Galella Archive - File Photos 2011(34 of39)
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Singer B.B. King and singer Whitney Houston attend the 21st Annual Songwriters Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and Awards Dinner on May 30, 1990 at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in New York City. (Photo by Ron Galella, Ltd./WireImage) (credit:Ron Galella, Ltd. via Getty Images)
Ron Galella Archive - File Photos 2010(35 of39)
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Musician BB King attends Roy Orbison Tribute Gala on February 24, 1990 at the Universal Ampitheater in Universal City, California. (Photo by Ron Galella, Ltd./WireImage) (credit:Ron Galella, Ltd. via Getty Images)
Ron Galella Archive - File Photos 2010(36 of39)
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Musician BB King attends Roy Orbison Tribute Gala on February 24, 1990 at the Universal Ampitheater in Universal City, California. (Photo by Ron Galella, Ltd./WireImage) (credit:Ron Galella, Ltd. via Getty Images)
Blues Singer B.B. King(37 of39)
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HOUSTON - JULY 27: Blues Singer B.B. King photographed on July 27, 1990 in Houston, TX. (Photo by Pam Francis/Getty Images) (credit:Pam Francis via Getty Images)
BB King Performs At Riverpier(38 of39)
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American Blues musician BB King plays guitar onstage at Riverpier, New York, New York, July 27, 1990. (Photo by Jack Vartoogian/Getty Images) (credit:Jack Vartoogian/Getty Images via Getty Images)
BB King Performing(39 of39)
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CIRCA 1990: Blues musician B.B. King performs onstage circa 1990. (Photo by Larry Hulst/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images) (credit:Larry Hulst via Getty Images)

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