Lindsey Graham returns home one last time for his funeral in South Carolina

Lindsey Graham is being buried in South Carolina, where a funeral in the state capital is drawing people who remember him as the son of pool hall owners who never forgot his roots (AP) — The Washington powerbroker Sen. Lindsey Graham returned home to South Carolina for the last time Wednesday for his funeral and burial.After Graham was eulogized Tuesday in the nation's capital as an indefatigable dealmaker by the president, vice president and others, mourners in Columbia prepared to remember him Wednesday as the son of pool hall owners who never forgot his roots.Graham seemed to know every small-town mayor and police chief and the location of every Chick-fil-A across South Carolina.

His PAC made sure Republicans had money to run in legislative and local elections across the state.Graham died suddenly on July 11 at his home in Washington, likely of an aortic tear, according to preliminary findings. He had just returned from a whirlwind trip to a NATO summit in Turkey, where he celebrated his 71st birthday, and a visit to Ukraine as he negotiated punishing sanctions against Russia. Senators voted late Tuesday to advance the package as a final gesture for their colleague.Wednesday's funeral was at First Baptist, the giant downtown church where his predecessor Republican Sen.

Strom Thurmond was honored 23 years ago.Graham's body was first brought to the South Carolina Statehouse, where he started his political career in 1993. It paused in front of about a dozen law enforcement officers and four military jets flew over. A horse-drawn caisson then carried his casket to the church, where his family followed military pallbearers carrying it inside.

A 130-member choir sang hymns.Hundreds of movers in South Carolina politics gathered. Both nominees for governor — Republican Attorney General Alan Wilson and Democratic state Rep. Jermaine Johnson — came, along with longtime Republican politicians like former House Speaker and Ambassador to Canada David Wilkins and U.S.

Henry Brown, who served 10 years before leaving in 2011.Republicans Gov. Jim Clyburn, the only remaining member of the South Carolina delegation there when Graham arrived in Washington in 1995, will read Scripture.Graham's burial Wednesday near his home in Pickens County was planned as a private ceremony.On Tuesday, Graham’s flag-draped casket was at the U.S. Capitol, where the Republican spent more than 30 years talking and laughing and badgering hi…