Family, friends say goodbye to Gregg Allman

BIBB COUNTY, Ga. — A funeral for rock star Gregg Allman was Saturday in Macon, Georgia, where the Allman Brothers Band first won fame.

A private memorial was at 1 p.m. at Snow's Memorial Chapel. Allman was buried near his late brother, founding Allman Brothers guitarist Duane Allman, and late bandmate Berry Oakley at Rose Hill Cemetery.

Fans lined the procession route from Snow's to the cemetery.

Allman died May 27 at his home near Savannah, Georgia, at age 69. Allman's manager, Michael Lehman, said he died peacefully and surrounded by loved ones after a recurrence of liver cancer.

Allman's bluesy vocals and soulful touch on the Hammond B-3 organ helped propel The Allman Brothers Band to superstardom and spawn Southern rock.

RELATED STORIES:

• President Carter to attend Gregg Allman's funeral Saturday
• Georgia couple's encounter with Gregg Allman
• Rock n' blues pioneer Gregg Allman has died at age 69
• Photos: Gregg Allman through the years

Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter was seen attending the funeral.

Carter said in a statement on Friday that he and his wife, Rosalynn, were deeply saddened by Allman's death.

Carter says The Allman Brothers Band helped his 1976 presidential campaign, helping draw bigger crowds than Carter got alone at the time. The 92-year-old former president says he has always been grateful to Allman, and he wants to show his respect.

Carter helped award Allman an honorary degree last summer at Mercer University.

Organizers encouraged fans of the Allman Brothers Band to pay their respects by lining the streets from the funeral home to the cemetery, beginning at the corner of Cherry and First streets, near the Macon City Auditorium.

A number of streets were closed before and during the funeral procession.

“We just ask that everybody respect the family’s privacy and give (Gregg) a great sendoff,” Snow said Tuesday.

The Bibb County sheriff’s office suggested parking in one of two spots within walking distance of the funeral procession, according to the office’s Facebook page.

Cox Media Group