A capacity crowd of about 2,000 people filled Fellowship Chapel on Wednesday to mourn Detroit hip-hop star Proof.
People waited in lines that wrapped around the church to get into the scheduled 11 a.m. service, which started about 45 minutes late to accommodate the crowd's entry.
The funeral began with the church's pastor, Rev. Wendell Anthony, reading passages from scripture while family members and close friends paid their last respects in front of the gold-toned casket.
Proof, who was 32, was dressed in athletic wear and Kangol cap. His rap name and birth name, Deshaun D. Holton, were etched at the bottom of the casket in English script. He was surrounded by a huge display of flowers, blankets and other adornments.
Ushers helped several people who were overcome with grief, and some mourners screamed in anguish as the casket was closed.
Among those in attendance were Eminem, 50 Cent, Obie Trice, D12 members Bizarre, Kuniva, Kon Artis and Swift, and Eminem's manager Paul Rosenberg.
Eminem sat in a pew behind Proof’s family, wearing a black suit. When attendees started giving testimonials, he went to the lectern and said he had nothing planned, but that “I can’t just let my friend go without me saying my peace.”
Eminem told a story from when he was 16 years old and living on the east side. He said Proof approached him and threw a pair of shoes at his feet, saying: “Put those on.”
When Eminem asked why, he said Proof told him: “Cuz I’m tired of you wearing those dirty-ass shoes.”
Eminem added: “I apologize for cussing in church.”
Visibly worn out, Eminem broke down in tears when speaking.
“He taught me how to be a leader,” Eminem said. “I’m sure everybody who has ever met him, even just once, can testify to the fact that he illuminated a room when he walked in it. I believe that Proof loved people and people loved him. He was a magnet. He lured you in. You wanted to learn about him, follow his swagger. Without Proof, there would be no Eminem, no Slim Shady, no D12. ”
Proof’s family presented Eminem with a framed picture of Eminem and Proof together.
Later, Detroit rapper Obie Trice, a labelmate of Eminem and Proof's group D12, spoke and called for an end to violence. Trice was shot in the head in a New Year's Eve incident, and a bullet remains lodged in his skull.
“I want to talk to the black men in here that’s coming up in the hood, coming up in the struggle," Trice said, overcome with tears. "We’re killing each other, dawg. And it’s about nothing. Nothing. Nothing. We’re all dying. And we’re leaving our kids. Our mommas. Our grandmas. Over nothing.”
“Proof is the one. He is the pioneer of Detroit music,” Trice continued. “You feel me? We’ve got to stand up, man. I love all y’all. We black people. White people, too. I love y’all, too. We got to stand up. Rest in peace.”
Rev. Anthony continued with Trice's theme. In a long, thundering eulogy, Anthony denounced violence as “the madness that is infecting” Detroit. “Violence is the weed that is choking the life out of our community,” he said.
Mourners were handed a full-color 14-page program, which included numerous testimonials and photos, including a nearly full page shot of Proof with his arm around Eminem. Among the notations: “Proof was the funniest cat I ever knew in my life,” signed by Duane (Legwork).
Sixteen names were listed as pallbearers, mostly family and friends, including Mark Hicks, Proof’s longtime manager. Several others were listed as honorary pallbearers, including Eminem, the members of D12 and Detroit rapper Trick Trick.
People had begun arriving at the church at about 8 a.m. The first two people in line were cousins from Detroit, Ebony Johnson, 18, and Dvonne Johnson, 14.
“We’re here to pay our respects to Proof. He was from Detroit and he was a good rapper,” said Ebony Johnson.
“Everybody thought he was a good man. He was repping his city,” added Dvonne.
Cars were parked all along Outer Drive and nearby side streets. The law enforcement presence was heavy, including members of the Detroit Police Department, Wayne County Sheriff's Department and Michigan State Police.
An antique carriage drawn by white horses was waiting to transport the casket from the church at Southfield and Outer Drive to the burial site, Woodlawn Cemetery on Woodward Avenue near 8 Mile.
Proof died in a gun battle last week in a club on 8 Mile Road in Detroit that was operating illegally after-hours. Authorities say Proof shot 35-year-old Keith Bender Jr. in the head at the C.C.C. Club early on April 11 after a fight. Another man -- a relative of Bender -- then shot Proof three times in the head and chest. Proof died almost immediately. Bender died Tuesday at St. John Hospital and Medical Center.
http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/a...EWS99/60419002
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Eminem,50 Cent,D12 Attend Proof's Funeral
