Elvis Funeral – Pallbearer on ‘Heavy Coffin’ and That ‘Strange’ Moment | Music

Following Elvis Presley’s sudden death from a heart attack at age 42 on August 16, 1977, 80,000 fans lined the streets of Memphis to witness his casket’s journey from Graceland to Forest Hill Cemetery for burial two days later. Pallbearers at the King’s funeral on August 18 were Billy Smith, Gene Smith, Joe Esposito, Lamar Like, Dr. George Nichopoulos, Charlie Hodge, Jerry Schilling and George Klein.

Elvis’ cousin Billy revisited Forest Hill Cemetery Mausoleum to share memories of The King’s private funeral, where he recalled walking up the steps with the music icon’s casket.

Over the years, there have been rumors that it was “so heavy.” Speaking previously on the Memphis Mafia Kid YouTube channel, he teased, “That’s something you wouldn’t believe. So he decided to line his entire coffin with gold, to outdo Tut, and it weighed a ton.” But he just joked, shaking his head and saying, “If you believe that… It wasn’t really that heavy. I don’t know where people get the idea that it was really heavy.”

But during the ceremony in the small chapel, something very special happened.

On their YouTube channel Elvis Fans Matter, Billy’s wife Jo previously said: “I remember when they had a service here, the sun was shining through the window and me, Linda Thompson and Patsy Presley Gamble were all sitting together. And the pallbearers were all together and the sun was shining through the little windows up there and it made the shadow of a perfect cross on the wall. It was strange.”

Billy remembers how Elvis’ body was kept in the small chapel for about four or five days, with security outside, but his final remains soon had to be moved.

The King’s nephew said, “There was an attempt, believe it or not, to steal Elvis’ body and from that point on Uncle Vernon didn’t know what to do. So he called the city and asked if he could move it to Graceland so he could have 24/7 security. They agreed and also agreed to move his mother there and of course Grandma and all of them are buried there now. It worked out pretty well.”

Elvis was originally buried with his mother Gladys, who died in 1958, at Forest Hill Cemetery. Both caskets were exhumed and buried in the Meditation Garden at Graceland, where they remain to this day.

In 1979, Vernon was buried next to his wife and a year later his mother Minnie Mae was buried next to The King.

Tragically, Elvis’ grandson Benjamin Keough – the only son of his daughter Lisa Marie – died in 2020 at just 27 and was buried there across from his grandfather. His mother died last year at 54 and was buried next to her son.