HOUSTON – The list of family, dignitaries and invited guests attending funeral of former First Lady Barbara Bush Saturday was long and distinguished.
The Bush family led by former President George H. W. Bush, former President and Mrs. George W. Bush, former President and Mrs. Bill Clinton, former President and Mrs. Barack Obama, and First Lady Melania Trump – along with a 1,500 guests – gatherered to pay respects to the much beloved matriarch known for her wit, candor and relentless advocacy for family literacy.
Photos: Bush 41 greets mourners at visitation
President Trump has said he would not attend the funeral out of respects for the family and not wanting to cause a disruption or security issue. The Carters are also not in attendance because President Carter is reportedly out of the country, and Mrs. Carter is recovering from surgery.
Following the funeral service, the Bush family will proceed by motorcade to the George H. W. Bush Presidential Library in College Station, Texas for a brief, private interment ceremony.
Rundown of the day:
10:00 AM VIP Reception hosted by President George W. Bush.
Location: Bagby Parish Hall
Guests: 105 People
- First Lady Melania Trump
- President and Mrs. Clinton
- President and Mrs. Obama
- President Bush 41
- President and Mrs. George W. Bush
- Doro and Bobby Koch
- Governor Jeb Bush and Columba Bush
- Maria and Neil Bush
- Margaret and Margaret Bush
- Secretary Jim Baker and Susan Baker
- Keith and Jon Meacham
- Peter and Kiki Cheney
- Chelsea Clinton
- Susan Ford Bales
- Lynda Johnson Robb and Senator Chuck Robb
- Luci Baines Johnson and Ian Turpin
- Tricia Nixon Cox and Edward Cox
- Ambassador Caroline Kennedy and Edwin Schlossberg
- Grandchildren and their spouses
- VIPs (alphabetic order):
- Texas Governor Greg Abbott
- Mrs. Cecilia Abbott
- Senator Lamar Alexander (Education Secretary in 41 administration)
- Secretary James Baker
- Mrs. Susan Baker **Eulogist**
- The Honorable Nick Brady (Treasury Secretary in 41 administration)
- The Honorable Andy Card
- Reverend Kathleene Card
- Vice President Dick Cheney (Defense Secretary in 41 administration)
- Mrs. Lynne Cheney
- Senator Susan Collins
- Former Michigan Governor John Engler
- Mrs. Michelle Engler
- Secretary Barbara Franklin (Commerce Secretary in 41 administration)
- Secretary Bob Gates (CIA Director in 41 administration)
- Mrs. Becky Gates
- Ambassador Boyden Gray (WH Counsel for 41 as VP and POTUS)
- Former British Minister Sir John Major
- Dame Norma Major
- Former Maine Governor Jock McKernan
- Senator Olympia Snowe
- Fmr Canadian Prime Minister The Right Honourable Brian Mulroney
- Mrs. Mila Mulroney
- Ohio Senator Rob Portman (WH Staffer in 41 administration)
- Mrs. Jane Portman
- Vice President Dan Quayle
- Mrs. Marylin Quayle
- Dr. Condoleeza Rice (NSC Staffer in 41 administration)
- Mrs. Ann Romney
- General Brent Scowcroft
- Senator Alan Simpson
- Mrs. Ann Simpson
- Secretary Sam Skinner (Transportation Secretary in 41 administration)
- Mrs. Honey Skinner
- The Honorable Louis Sullivan (HHS Secretary in 41 administration)
- Mrs. Ginger Sullivan
- Fmr New Hampshire Governor John Sununu (WH Chief of Staff)
- Fmr Wisconsin Governor Tommy Thompson
- Mrs. Sue Ann Thompson
- Judge Bill Webster (CIA Director in 41 administration)
- Mrs. Lynda Webster
- Texas Congressman Roger Williams
10:30 AM Mrs. Bush’s brother Scott Pierce and his wife Jan, Jonathan and Jody Bush, Kent and Kristen Pierce arrive St. Martin’s west porte cochere.
10:40 AM Grandson pallbearers gather in St. Martin’s Narthex.
- George P. Bush
- Jeb Bush, Jr.
- Pierce Bush
- Pace Andrews
- Alexander Andrews
- Walker Bush
- Sam LeBlond
- Robert Koch
10:40 AM Eulogists Jon Meacham and Susan Baker escorted to their seats.
10:40 AM VIP Seating begins.
Ford, Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon, and Clinton children escorted to Row 2.
Photos: Looking back at former First Lady Barbara Bush
VIPs except First Ladies/First Families are escorted to their seats.
10:45 AM Prayer led by Russ Levenson in Bagby Parish Hall for First Families:
- President Bush 41
- President and Mrs. Bush 43
- Doro and Bobby Koch
- Governor Jeb Bush and Columba Bush
- Maria and Neil Bush
- Margaret and Margaret Bush
- Grandchildren and their spouses [24 people]
- First Lady Melania Trump
- President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama
- President Bill Clinton and Secretary Hillary Clinton
- Vice President Dick Cheney and Lynne Cheney
- Vice President Dan Quayle and Marilyn Quayle
Bush granddaughters and grandchildren’s spouses are escorted to their seats:
- Lizzie Andrews
- Barbara Bush
- Noelle Bush
- Ashley Bush
- Jenna Bush Hager
- Gigi Koch
- Marshall Bush Rossi
- Ellie Sosa
Spouses:
- Mandi Bush
- Sandra Bush
- Sarahbeth Bush
- Henry Hager
- Lee LeBlond
- Julian LeFevre
- Nick Rossi
- Nick Sosa
President Bush 41 and children are escorted to their seats by chief of staff Jean Becker
10:55 AM Everyone seated.
- Anthem.
- Hymn.
- Reception of the Body.
11:00 AM Funeral Service for Former First Lady Barbara Bush
At the conclusion of the service, the family follows the casket to the narthex. The pall is removed and flowers are placed upon the casket.
12:30 PM The remains will be carried from the church by the grandsons.
12:40 PM Motorcade departs St. Martins Church en route College Station.
Motorcade route when departing St. Martin’s: The motorcade proceeds east on Memorial Drive through Memorial Park. Just east of the park at Westcott, turns left and then merges onto I-10. The route through the park will be publicized, so Houstonians may pay their respects.
Motorcade route when entering College Station: The motorcade remains on Texas Avenue to George Bush Drive. Motorcade turns left onto George Bush Drive, and then right onto Barbara Bush Drive. This route will be publicized so that the A&M/College Station community may pay their respects.
2:45 PM Arrive George Bush Presidential Library Center, College Station, TX.
This will be a private time for the Bush family only.
Once the motorcade turns down the side of the Museum building, the family will be off camera.
Texas A&M University Corps of Cadets will line the motorcade route on Barbara Bush Drive approaching The George Bush Presidential Library Complex.
The motorcade will stop on the plaza between the Library and School Buildings, with the hearse positioned at the top of the stairs leading to the pond.
Mrs. Bush’s casket will be removed by military support. Family gathers behind casket.
The procession will proceed in the following order to the gravesite:
- Clergy
- Remains
- Immediate Family Only
3:00 PM Interment.
CLOSED
Once the procession has passed over the bridge and is approaching the pavilion, The Singing Cadets, prepositioned at gravesite, will begin singing. The procession continues through the woods to the gravesite.
Once the casket is placed on the bier, The Singing Cadets will conclude their musical selection. They will then quietly depart.
A private interment service will be conducted by The Reverend Dr. Russell Levenson and The Reverend Peter Cheney.
3:10 PM Interment will be complete.
