Falwell funeral set; graduation will go on

Funeral services will be next week for the Rev. Jerry Falwell, who died Tuesday after he was found unresponsive in his office at Liberty University.

Falwell, founder of LU and Thomas Road Baptist Church, was 73.

Ron Godwin, LU’s executive vice president, said Falwell had missed an appointment Tuesday morning at
the church before he was found unconscious.

He was rushed to Lynchburg General Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 12:40 p.m.

Falwell’s death comes just four days before he was scheduled to preside over LU’s spring graduation, which includes the first graduating class of the Liberty University School of Law.

The Falwell family and university officials announced Tuesday night that the school’s graduation and baccalaureate services will go on as planned.

Falwell’s funeral will be held at Thomas Road Baptist Church at 1 p.m. on Tuesday. LU’s Vines Center and Williams Football Stadium will be used to accommodate overflow for the service.

Public viewing of Falwell’s body is scheduled to begin Thursday at 9 a.m. at LU’s Arthur S. DeMoss Learning Center.

Falwell’s burial will be private.

The family requests memorials be made to Jerry Falwell Ministries “to further Dr. Falwell’s vision of spreading the Gospel around the world.”

News of his death quickly spread across the nation Tuesday afternoon, prompting messages of condolences from national and state leaders, including President Bush as well as Republican presidential candidates preparing for a debate in South Carolina.

Another potential candidate, Newt Gingrich, said he still plans to serve as LU’s graduation speaker on Saturday despite Falwell’s death.

“His life is a testament not only to the power of faith to move hearts, but to the strength of the American ethos that stresses the importance of citizenship,” Gingrich said in a prepared statement released by his office.

As word of Falwell’s death spread across the LU campus Tuesday, spontaneous prayer groups formed as grief-stricken students, faculty and staff struggled with the news. Thousands turned out with barely an hour’s notice to a gathering at 2 p.m. in the TRBC sanctuary.

Less than three hours earlier, emergency medical technicians had administered CPR to Falwell as they rushed him to Lynchburg General.

Dr. Carl Moore, Falwell’s physician, speaking at a news conference at the hospital Tuesday afternoon, said cardiac arrhythmia likely was a factor in Falwell’s death. Moore said Falwell was found with no pulse and a pulse never was re-established.

Moore said most of the Falwell family members were present or were in transit from Richmond.

Just last July, Falwell celebrated the 50th anniversary of the church, which he started with 35 charter members.

He and Elmer Townes started Liberty University in 1971. The school is expecting to enroll almost 11,000 on-campus students next fall.

In the early 1980s, Falwell led the Moral Majority, which is credited in part for the conservative revolution that swept U.S. President Ronald Reagan into office.

Falwell had a history of heart problems. In March 2005, he lost consciousness as he was rushed to the hospital after complaining of shortness of breath, and was revived in the parking lot by emergency medical services. Doctors subsequently discovered blockage in blood vessels in his heart; he underwent a successful cardiac procedure at the Cleveland Clinic that summer.

On Monday afternoon, Falwell had traveled to the top of Candlers Mountain with his son, Jerry Jr., to look at a new gazebo that had been put in place near a huge “LU” monogram on the side of the mountain.

“He said he was feeling good,” Falwell Jr. said. “He said he was feeling better than he’d felt in a while.”

For the past couple of weeks, Falwell Sr. had complained about feeling tired.

On Tuesday morning, he met Godwin for breakfast at the Bob Evans restaurant on Wards Road in Lynchburg.

“The breakfast lasted until about 10 a.m.,” Godwin said. “Then he went to his office and I went to mine.”

About 11:10 a.m., an LU employee called Godwin because Falwell was late for an appointment at the church.

“The secretary started looking for him because it was not like him to be late,” Falwell Jr. said. “I told campus security to start looking for him. They went to his office and tried to resuscitate him, but it was too late.”

Godwin said Falwell’s legacy will be defined by his achievements and the family he leaves behind.

He was married to his wife, Macel, for almost 50 years.
“She’s in shock,” Falwell Jr. said. “It’s just beginning to sink in. I’d have to say it is the saddest day of all of our lives.”

Beyond the personal loss, Falwell’s death brings to an end a storied career that has seen him expound and defend his conservative beliefs on a national stage.

“I can tell you that Dr. Falwell’s impact on the spiritual, political and social fabric of the United States is entirely impossible to estimate,” Godwin said. “He was a visionary leader and a towering giant of faith.”

Mat Staver, the dean of the Liberty University law school and founder of Liberty Counsel, a Christian legal advocacy group, said Falwell had a tender, private side.

“The legacy of Jerry Falwell will live on through the church, the university and the millions of people he touched worldwide through his calling as a pastor,” Staver said. “He was a good friend and a giant of a leader that we’ve lost in the person of Jerry Falwell.”

Staver said he got a glimpse of Falwell’s heart in 1999 when he visited Florida on one of his hectic down-and-back trips.
“Until you know him personally, all you know is the personas of Dr. Falwell,” Staver said.

During the trip to Florida, Falwell’s schedule was “jam packed.”
“We had a late dinner at a private home,” Staver said.
A lady suffering from cancer asked to see him.
“You’re her hero,” Staver said.

Although Falwell was anticipating a speaking engagement and a long flight home, he rushed to her side.

“He spent 45 minutes with her,” Staver said. “He prayed with her and then went on to his event.”

After the woman died several months later, it became known that Falwell had called her several times just to offer her encouragement as she battled terminal illness.

“He had picked up the phone to speak to a woman he had met for 45 minutes just to pray with her,” Staver said. “It is clear he had a great love for God and a love for people. He had deep convictions and deep compassion.”

Wendell Walker, a member of Thomas Road Baptist Church for 33 years, said Falwell was personally interested in his parishioners and students at Liberty University.

“I think we have all lost a great, great friend today,” Walker said. “Jerry Falwell was probably one of the best friends a person could have.”

Through the years, Falwell encouraged Walker to marry his wife, Patsy, and become involved in Republican Party politics in Lynchburg. Walker is the former chairman of the local Republican Party.

Saturday was supposed to be a special day for the Walker family. Walker, his wife and his father are all Liberty graduates. His daughter is part of this year’s graduating class.

“There are three generations that Jerry Falwell has had an impact on,” Walker said. “I wish America had more Jerry Falwells impacting our country. Come Saturday, he’ll be sitting up there in Heaven and telling the dear Lord, ‘Let me tell you about this person and that person.’ That’s just the way he was.’ ”