The longtime Republican senator returned to his home state for a final series of ceremonies honoring his rise from small-town South Carolina to decades of influence in Washington and abroad.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
Sen. Lindsey Graham returned to South Carolina for the final time Wednesday as family members, political leaders and residents gathered to honor the longtime Republican lawmaker before his burial near his home in Pickens County.
The funeral followed a day of national remembrance in Washington, where Graham was praised by President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance and other dignitaries as a relentless negotiator who spent more than three decades building relationships, pressing colleagues for action and shaping debates over foreign policy, defense and national security.
In South Carolina, the focus shifted from Graham’s standing as a Washington power broker to the personal history that shaped his political career. Mourners remembered him as the son of pool hall owners who maintained close ties to his home state, knew local officials throughout its cities and towns and remained deeply involved in Republican politics at every level.
Graham was known for remembering small-town mayors, police chiefs and local landmarks, including the locations of Chick-fil-A restaurants across South Carolina. His political action committee also helped finance Republican candidates seeking legislative and local offices, extending his influence far beyond his own Senate campaigns.
Graham died unexpectedly July 11 at his Washington home. Preliminary findings indicated that an aortic tear was the likely cause of death.
His death came shortly after a demanding overseas trip that included a NATO summit in Turkey, where he marked his 71st birthday, followed by a visit to Ukraine. At the time, Graham was working to secure support for a sanctions package aimed at Russia.
The Senate voted late Tuesday to advance the sanctions measure, providing what colleagues viewed as a final legislative tribute to a senator who had spent much of his career urging a more assertive American role in global affairs.
Wednesday’s funeral was held at First Baptist Church in downtown Columbia, the same large congregation where former Republican Sen. Strom Thurmond was honored 23 years earlier.
Before the church service, Graham’s body was taken to the South Carolina Statehouse, where he began his political career in 1993. A law enforcement ceremony was held there, accompanied by a military jet flyover.
A horse-drawn caisson then carried Graham’s casket from the Statehouse to First Baptist Church. Members of his family followed as the casket was brought inside for the funeral service.
His burial near his Pickens County home was scheduled as a private ceremony later Wednesday.
The state observances came one day after Graham’s flag-draped casket lay at the U.S. Capitol, where he spent more than 30 years serving in Congress and became known for an energetic style built around debate, humor, persistence and personal persuasion.
Trump was among those attending Tuesday’s service at Washington National Cathedral, reflecting Graham’s prominence in both domestic politics and international affairs.
Trump described him as “a giant of the United States Senate, a true American original who left us much too soon.”
Graham’s death also set off a rapid political transition in South Carolina. He had already secured the Republican nomination while seeking a fifth Senate term when he died.
Gov. Henry McMaster appointed Graham’s younger sister, Darline, to serve in the seat through January. Sen. Darline Graham, R-S.C., later surprised many in the state by announcing that she would seek the full six-year term.
South Carolina law requires Republicans to hold a special primary in two weeks to choose a new nominee. Eight additional candidates entered the race, including former Gov. Mark Sanford and Republican Reps. Ralph Norman and Russell Fry.
The contest will determine who carries the Republican nomination for a seat Graham held for more than two decades and leaves behind after a career that connected local South Carolina politics with some of the most consequential debates in Washington.
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