Obama, Clintons, widow honor Baltimore’s Elijah Cummings for fighting through pain to bring justice to others - Baltimore Sun

Obama, Clintons, widow honor Baltimore’s Elijah Cummings for fighting through pain to bring justice to others - Baltimore Sun

Two former presidents, congressional colleagues and thousands of residents of his beloved Baltimore said goodbye to U.S. Rep. Elijah Cummings at his longtime church Friday in a poignant service that was also a resounding appreciation of the city and a congressman who overcame adversity.

The funeral — attended by former Democratic presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton — was at times buoyant as about 4,000 mourners thundered applause for Cummings, the marquee speakers and mentions of Baltimore.

His widow, Maya Rockeymoore Cummings, thanked the attendees at New Psalmist Baptist Church for their support of her husband, who she said struggled with physical and emotional pain.

She said the Democratic congressman, who had cancer and other ailments, was stung by political attacks. Cummings, 68, was the focus of criticism by Republican President Donald Trump and his supporters this year as he intensified his pursuit of documents and testimony to investigate Trump’s administration.