*The Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr., the famed civil rights leader and two-time presidential candidate, was celebrated Friday (03-06-26) by thousands of mourners and three former presidents during a powerful public homegoing service in Chicago. Jackson died on Feb. 17, 2026, at age 84 from progressive supranuclear palsy, a rare neurodegenerative disease.
His family and the Rainbow PUSH Coalition organized services spanning several locations over two weeks, emphasizing his roots in South Carolina, his national impact in Washington, D.C., and his adopted home of Chicago.
Full Schedule of Services
The public remembrances began in Chicago, where Jackson had lived for decades. On Thursday, Feb. 26, and Friday, Feb. 27, he lay in state at the Rainbow PUSH Coalition headquarters, 930 E. 50th St., with public viewing from 10 a.m. daily.
Following the Chicago visitation, the family traveled for services in the South. On Monday, March 2, Jackson lay in repose at the South Carolina State Capitol Rotunda in Columbia from 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., followed by a nearly three-hour memorial service at Brookland Baptist Church, 1066 Sunset Blvd., from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.
A formal funeral or memorial for invited dignitaries was held in Washington, D.C., on either March 4 or 5, with details kept limited.
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The largest public event, dubbed “The People’s Celebration,” was held Friday, March 6, at the House of Hope church, 752 E. 114th St., on Chicago’s South Side. Doors opened at 9 a.m., and the service began at 11 a.m., lasting more than five hours. The 10,000-seat facility was filled with mourners.
The final service, a private “Homegoing Celebration of Life,” will be held Saturday, March 7, at 10 a.m. at the Rainbow PUSH Coalition headquarters in Chicago, followed by burial at Oak Woods Cemetery.
Highlights from the Services
South Carolina:
The March 2 service at Brookland Baptist Church featured songs, worship, and memories from clergy and family, celebrating Jackson’s birthplace and early years.
Chicago – “The People’s Celebration”:
The March 6 service was a stirring five-hour event filled with fiery speeches, gospel music and emotional tributes. Three former presidents attended and spoke: Bill Clinton, Barack Obama and Joe Biden. They were joined by former First Lady Dr. Jill Biden and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
Former President Obama invoked Jackson’s legacy in the context of modern political divisions, recalling how Jackson’s 1984 presidential run inspired him as a young man. “The message he sent to a 22-year-old child of a single mother, with a funny name—an outsider—was that maybe there wasn’t any place, any room, where we didn’t belong,” Obama said.
Biden called Jackson “underrated, undeterred and unafraid,” while Clinton said he came “more as a friend than a former president,” adding, “He made me a better president.”
Other speakers included Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, U.S. Rep. Maxine Waters and the Rev. Al Sharpton. Musical performances came from Jennifer Hudson, who belted out “A Change Is Gonna Come,” and gospel legends Bebe Winans and Pastor Marvin Winans.
Throughout the service, family and friends emphasized Jackson’s lifelong fight for justice. His son, Yusef Jackson, recalled, “I know my father is smiling in heaven right now, beachside. He loved talking about his work.”
International Presence:
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa attended the Saturday service, delivering a tribute and recognizing Jackson’s relentless campaigning against apartheid.
Public Response and Legacy
Services were open to the public where noted, with thousands attending in Chicago. Mourners waited in line for hours at Rainbow PUSH headquarters to pay respects, with many recalling Jackson’s famous mantra, “I am somebody.”
The family requested donations to the Rainbow PUSH Coalition in lieu of flowers.
Rest in power, Rev. Jesse Jackson. His work continues through the Rainbow PUSH Coalition and those he inspired.
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