Lisa Marie Presley honored at Graceland in public memorial

On a somber Sunday, one that was gray and chilly, hundreds gathered in Graceland to remember the light of Elvis Presley’s life.

Mourners began lining up as early as 5 a.m. to say a final goodbye to The King’s only child, Lisa Marie Presley. Some mourners held flowers as they waited for the service to begin under the tall trees on the lawn of Graceland, the home where Lisa Marie lived as a child with her father. The mansion, which she owned, has been turned into a museum and tourist attraction that hundreds of thousands of fans visit each year to celebrate the life and music of Elvis, who died in 1977.

The celebration of Lisa Marie’s life opened up with an emotional rendition of “Amazing Grace” by Jason Clark & The Tennessee Mass Choir.

“We would like to express our heartfelt gratitude for the love, compassion and support you have shown our family during this difficult time,” said a message from the Presley family written on the program for the service. “We will always be grateful.”

Joel Weinshanker, a film producer who has worked on several projects about Graceland, provided opening remarks. He noted that Lisa Marie provided her “wishes and desires” for the day.

“Don’t make it sad,” he said while fighting back tears, adding that Graceland was the “forever home” of Elvis and Lisa Marie.

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Dwayne Hunt, the senior pastor of Abundant Grace Fellowship in Memphis, gave the invocation. He said to remember Lisa Marie’s mother and children so that they can “rise above the darkness of this grief.”

A.C. Wharton, the former Mayor of Memphis, stressed that it was a “good morning” despite the outpouring of grief.

He described that before Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, as well as many other stars like Jay Z and Beyonce, as well as Dennis Quaid and Meg Ryan, “Right here, in this city, our own royal couple Elvis and Priscilla had a beautiful bundle of joy named Lisa Marie.”

The 78-year-old said “it was a hard time in Memphis” in 1968 with the death of Martin Luther King Jr. – the same year “a bright, shining light” came into the world with Lisa Marie’s birth.

“Lisa Marie was all Memphis. She belonged to us, and we belonged to her,” he said. “We saw her deal with the weight of fame and the weight of grief… Today we celebrate her love… We embrace her family. And we recognize the strength and sheer force, the sheer force of will it took for Lisa to keep on climbing.”

Billy Corgan, frontman of the Smashing Pumpkins, performed “To Sheila.”

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“A summer storm graces all of me,” the 55-year-old sang. “Highway warm sing silent poetry, I could bring you the light, And take you home into the night.”

Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York, gave “a tribute to the children.” The former wife of U.K.’s Prince Andrew had a close bond with Lisa Marie.

“I stand here with great honor because we called each other sissy,” he said. “Sissy, this is for you with affection.”

The 63-year-old remembered “my great mother-in-law” Queen Elizabeth II’s words: “Grief is the price we pray for love.”

“We look to Lisa Marie and said you lost a son,” said Ferguson. “Mothers losing children – there are no words for it. So today we talk about action and action is the way we go forward. We can light the flame. So for Riley, for Harper and Finley and the entire family, we march forward in support of you. All of us are with you. If you just put out your hand we will be there. I will definitely be there.”

Alanis Morissette followed with a piano rendition of “Rest.”

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“And God rest, God please rest our souls,” the 48-year-old sang. “This is the surest exit I have known, We’ve been hurting for a while, Can we cut ourselves some slack, Let us lie down, let us lie down.”

Jerry Schilling, a film producer and close friend of Elvis’, gave his remembrance. During the Golden Globes, shortly before her death, Lisa Marie held onto the 80-year-old during her final public appearance.

“Me and a girl named ‘Memphis’ – I always called Lisa Memphis,” he said. “She had that attitude. And she always called me Jerry Schilling, always in that cadence. Her son Ben … did the same thing. Jerry Schilling?”

Schilling’s words prompted a laugh from the audience.

Ahead of Lisa Marie’s birth in 1968, Schilling recalled he was just about to leave Elvis and Priscilla Presley’s home.

“[Elvis] looked at me, and he said, ‘You’re not gonna stay for the birth of our daughter?’ I said, ‘I guess I will!’ So I was here until Feb. 1,” he said, chuckling.

“We got back to the house here, and I never held a baby before,” he recalled. “We’re in the kitchen and Elvis just hands me Lisa. And I sure as hell was not going to drop her. And that was the beginning of my journey.”

Lisa Marie would later work with Schilling as his assistant. At the time, he was managing Jerry Lee Lewis. He described how Lisa Marie was the only person who could intimidate “The Killer,” as the late singer was known.

“She asked me if I would walk her on the red carpet to the Golden Globes,” he later said. “… The last thing she said to me was, ‘Jerry Schilling, I love you.'”

He said that just as he was at the hospital when Lisa Marie was born, “I was at the hospital with her mother as she left us.”

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“Memphis, I will always love you,” he concluded.

Priscilla then tearfully took the mic. The matriarch read a note “my granddaughter wanted me to read to you all.” The letter described how Lisa Marie was “an icon” to her child.

“‘I have no idea how to put my mother into words,'” Priscilla read. “‘Truth is, there are too many. Lisa Marie Presley was an icon, a role model, a superhero to many people all over the world, but Mama was my icon, my role model, my superhero — in much more ways than one. Even now, I can’t get across everything there is to be understood or known about her, but as she always said, I’ll do my best.'”

Priscilla then read a poem titled “The Old Soul,” written about Lisa Marie’s life.

“‘In 1968, she entered our world, born tired, fragile, yet strong. She was delicate, but was filled with life. She always knew she wouldn’t be here too long,'” read Priscilla. “‘Childhood passes by, with a glimpse of her green eye, she then grew a family of her own. Then came her second child, leaving her with suspicion — could this be the angel that takes me home?’

“‘Time, of course, flew by. It was time for a tragedy. She knew it was close to the end. Survivor’s guilt, some would say, but a broken heart was the doing of her death. Now, she is home where she always belonged, but my heart is missing her love.'”

Priscilla visibly teared up and gasped for air.

“‘She knew that I loved her. I fear I would never touch her,'” read the 77-year-old. “‘But the old soul is always with me. She doesn’t drift above.’ That says it all, and thank you all for being here… Our heart is broken. Lisa, we all love you.”

A letter was then read by Ben Smith-Petersen, the husband of Lisa Marie’s eldest daughter Riley Keough.

“I know I’ve chosen the best mother for me,” he read. “… I remember the way you would cuddle me… and the way you smelled. I remember you singing to me and my brother lullabies at night… I remember how it felt to be loved by the most loving mother I’ve known… Thank you for showing me that love is the only thing that matters in this life… Thank you for trying so hard for us. If I didn’t tell you every day, thank you.”

Axl Rose said he was “honored to be here for Lisa Marie and her family.”

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“I do know Lisa loved her family very much and was fiercely protective of her father’s legacy,” the singer shared, noting she was just as protective of the patriarch’s “love for her and her love for him.”

“She was also extremely proud of the ‘Elvis’ movie… and Austin Butler’s dedication to the role of her father,” he added.

He then performed “November Rain.”

Hunt returned for the Benediction.

“God of comfort, console the hearts that are broken,” he said. “… God of peace, be close to those who were her close to her and give them peace… God of hope, even today we sit today in the shadow of loss, do not let us lose the hope that the sun will shine tomorrow.”

Hunt noted that Lisa Marie will rest next to her son Benjamin and near her father.

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“We say goodbye, goodbye until tomorrow,” he concluded.

The Blackwood Brothers Quartet performed “How Great Thou Art Sweet, Sweet Spirit.” They followed with “There’s a Sweet, Sweet Spirit in This Place,” a song that had a special significance to Elvis, in particular.

Weinshanker gave closing remarks. He thanked the crowds as he continued to fight back tears.

“She was and always will be her father’s protector, and we will continue to be hers,” he said. Weinshanker asked the public and media to respect the family’s wishes and not photograph or capture video of them.

Jason Clark and & The Tennessee Mass Choir concluded with Revelation 19:1.

After the service, mourners made a procession through Graceland’s Meditation Garden, where Lisa Marie is being laid to rest.

Lisa Marie died Thursday, Jan. 12, at the age of 54.

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“Riley, Harper, Finley and Priscilla are grateful for the support, well wishes and outpouring of love honoring their beloved Lisa Marie,” a representative confirmed to Fox News Digital in a statement.

“A public memorial service has been arranged on the front lawn of Graceland at 9 a.m. on Sunday, Jan. 22, in Memphis. Please visit www.graceland.com for more information. In lieu of flowers, the family encourages all who wish to send something to do so in the form of a donation to The Elvis Presley Charitable Foundation.”

Elvis, his parents Vernon and Gladys, his grandmother Minnie Mae and Lisa’s only son are also buried on the Graceland grounds.

The day conjured up memories of Elvis’ own send-off nearly a half-century ago. According to reports, more than 3,100 floral arrangements were ordered on the day of his death alone, setting the record for the most sold in a single day in the U.S.

An estimated 18,000 people – many who had traveled hundreds of miles from across the country – lined up for miles on a steamy August day in 1977 to catch a glimpse of the funeral procession featuring 49 vehicles. A white Cadillac hearse had a rose-covered coffin that carried the beloved patriarch’s body. Behind the hearse was the car carrying Priscilla, whose face hid behind a veil. A heartbroken Lisa Marie clutched onto her mother.

About 200 family members, friends and other loved ones attended the private service at Graceland, as well as stars like John Wayne, Burt Reynolds, George Hamilton and Ann-Margret, among others.

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While Lisa Marie lived in southern California, she often visited Memphis and was at Graceland for a celebration Jan. 8 to commemorate what would have been her father’s 88th birthday.

Elvis lived at Graceland from June 26, 1957, until his death Aug. 16, 1977.

Lisa Marie was taken to a hospital Jan. 12 after sheriff’s deputies responded to a “not breathing call.” She died the same day at the age of 54.

Riley, 33, took to Instagram Friday to honor her mother for the first time since her passing.

The post included a snap from her childhood. She gazes into Lisa Marie’s eyes as she holds a bouquet of flowers in the throwback picture. The actress captioned the post with a simple red heart emoji.

Lisa Marie is survived by her three daughters — Riley and twins Harper and Finley, 14.

Presley shared Riley with her ex-husband, Danny Keough. The couple also shared their son, Benjamin, who died at the age of 27 in 2020. Presley shared Harper and Finley with her ex-husband Michael Lockwood.

Lisa Marie became the sole heir of the Elvis Presley Trust, which — along with Elvis Presley Enterprises — managed Graceland and other assets until she sold her majority interest in 2005. She retained ownership of the mansion itself, the 13 acres around it and items inside the home.

Now, her daughters will receive Graceland, a representative for Graceland confirmed with FOX Business.

“Lisa Marie’s daughters inherit everything,” the rep stated.

The Associated Press contributed to this report