The plan has been set - for now.
City officials on Thursday released logistical details for James Brown's funeral Saturday. But they changed the times that had been announced the day before by Mr. Brown's close friend the Rev. Al Sharpton.
The viewing in Augusta will begin at 9 a.m., followed by the funeral service at 1 p.m. at the James Brown Arena.
Event coordinator Robert Howard, the city's assistant director of Recreation and Parks Department, said miscommunication among the family, the city and the funeral home led to the release of inaccurate times.
He said the details of the plans were likely to stay in flux through Saturday, but the times would stay the same.
"We're going to have changes all the way up to Saturday morning, but the key thing is we're going to go the extra mile to make sure we treat people nice," he said.
After a little more than two weeks on the job, arena general manager Robert "Flash" Gordon said the event has been a lot to handle so soon.
"Nothing is as big as this," he said. "We're getting a baptism here today."
Organizers will meet at 9 a.m. today to address any other issues that arise. The following is a rough sketch of how security and crowds will be handled Saturday.
- More than 100 law enforcement officers will be placed in and around the James Brown Arena on Saturday when droves of fans, news media and celebrities are expected to converge on downtown Augusta.
- At 9 a.m., the queue of mourners and fans will be ushered onto the arena floor and taken within five feet of Mr. Brown's casket before being seated for the funeral or led out of the building.
- Attendance for the funeral service at 1 p.m. will be capped at 8,100. Audio of the service will be available outside the arena.
- Although the city's Web site indicates that Eighth and Seventh streets will be closed, that will not be the case, Mr. Howard said.
Lines similar to those experienced by mourners waiting to view Mr. Brown on Thursday in New York are expected to begin forming outside the arena today.
Already the Augusta area has seen an outpouring from fans and mourners who surrounded his memorial statue on Broad Street with flowers, cards and candles.
The crowds are reminiscent of the reception Mr. Brown received at his concerts worldwide, but rarely experienced in Augusta.
"It was amazing to see the rest of the world and how they reacted to him," said Elif Pesmen, 34, Mr. Brown's personal assistant of eight years. "Concerts packed for blocks and blocks."
Mrs. Pesmen did not go to the Apollo Theater on Thursday. Instead she stayed in town to try to help out the family with the local arrangements.
She said she's spent the week trying to grasp that her boss is gone.
"It's very hard," said Mrs. Pesmen. "All week I've cried one minute and I was OK the next."
Staff Writer Amy Allyn Swann contributed to this article.
Reach Justin Boron at (706) 823-3215 or justin.boron@augustachronicle.com.
THE VIEWING AND FUNERAL IN AUGUSTA
- Entry to the viewing will be free and no tickets will be required
- Lines will form at 601 Seventh St. outside of the James Brown Arena. City officials are expecting fans and mourners to begin waiting today.
- Doors on Seventh Street will open at 9 a.m. Saturday to begin the three-and-a-half hour public viewing of James Brown's body.
- The viewing queue will take them within five feet of the Godfather of Soul before they are either seated for the 1 p.m. funeral or ushered out of the building.
FREE PARKING
Although the city's Web site indicates that the James Brown Arena's Seventh Street parking lot will be closed, it will serve as the primary parking site, according to Robert Howard, the city's coordinator for the funeral. Once the primary lot fills, Seventh Street will be shut down.
Auxiliary lots included the Municipal Building at 530 Greene St., DFCS on Fenwick Street, Richmond County Board of Education in the 800 block of Ellis Street and the Hatcher Building in the 500 block of Ellis Street. Cars parked illegally will be towed.
Source: City of Augusta
POSTHUMOUS HONOR
Paine College President Dr. Shirley A.R. Lewis will bestow James Brown with an honorary doctorate from the historically black college at his funeral Saturday.
Originally, the doctorate was to be given to Mr. Brown at the school's May commencement, said Jay Jefferies, a Paine College spokesman.
COMPLETE COVERAGE
James Brown: 1933-2006
James Brown, the world renown musical celebrity who never forgot his hometown of Augusta, died unexpectedly Christmas morning in an Atlanta hospital at age 73.
• Harlem fans say farewell
• Marital status still uncertain
• Share your memories of James Brown
• Audio Slide Show: Sharpton has kind words
• Audio Slide Show: Final curtain at Apollo
• Full coverage: Photos, video and stories
icon.
