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ISLAMABAD: A public memorial service for Lisa Marie Presley was held after her death at 54.
The Duchess of York and other renowned personalities were present at the service held in Memphis, Tennessee, at her father’s Graceland mansion on Sunday. The US singer died on 12 January after hours of being taken to hospital and was the only child of Elvis Presley.
Artists including Guns N’ Roses singer Axl Rose and Alanis Morissette performed as they joined her children and others, including the Duchess of York Sarah Ferguson and the former mayor of Memphis, on the occasion of paying tribute to Lisa.
Crowds of mourners were seen holding up pictures of Lisa, and large numbers of the public were invited to the service. Priscilla Presley, her mother, thanked everyone for coming to honour her daughter as she stood on the stage on the estate’s front lawn.
Her Daughter Wrote Poems for Lisa at Service
Harper, one of Lisa Marie’s three daughters, wrote this poem for her mother: “Mama was my symbol, my role model, my heroine, and much more ways than one.” Another poem written by her daughter Riley was read out at the service, which said: “I wish I could love my daughter as you did for me. The way you care for my sister and brother. I’m grateful for the guts, heart, strength, empathy, and sense of humor you’ve given me.”
Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York, also paid tribute to Lisa and offered her support to the children of the late singer. “Grief is the price we pay for love, and how true my late mother-in-law was when she observed that nothing can even begin to ease the pain and agony of these circumstances,” she said.
Alanis Morissette performed her song Rest as part of the memorial service’s musical tributes. Axl Rose performed November Rain by the group, and To Sheila by The Smashing Pumpkins was sung by Billy Corgan.
The Blackwood Brothers Quartet performed at her father’s funeral with different members in 1977, then sang the gospel song How Great Thou Art, followed by Sweet, Sweet Spirit. Elvis and other Presley family members are also buried at Graceland.
