Obama Attends Memorial Service For Grandmother

HONOLULU — President-elect Barack Obama gathered with family and friends on Tuesday for a private memorial service for the beloved grandmother who helped raise him.

Madelyn Payne Dunham, known to her friends as "Toot", died Nov. 2, two days before Obama won election to become the nation's first African-American president. She was 86.

Obama did not speak to reporters at the small home that had been converted into the First Unitarian Church in the neighborhood of Nuuanu. Aides said Obama's half-sister, Maya Soetoro-Ng, and her husband, Konrad Ng, also were present.

Following the ceremony, Obama drove to cliffs east of Hononulu. He and about 20 members of his family climbed over a stone wall and down onto rocky ledges to scatter Dunham's ashes at Lanai Lookout.

Obama earlier this year left flowers at the same cliffs, in memory of his mother.

Comments

[PippiLongstocking]

Michelle looks cute in her outfit.

[caremore]

as he should!!!!!

[gcallaghan]

If there is an afterlife, you can be sure she's proud of Barack. If there isn't an afterlife, you know her last moments were filled with pride for Barack.
Farewell, sweet lady.

[xxnounxx]

suhaila est un nom musulman

[CindyWV]

And this should matter because...?

[GloriaY]

Toot's spirit lives on. May she protect our beloved PEOTUS and his beautiful family, and may she inspire him to do the very best he can for all the people of these United States and the world. RIP Toot.

[Dovescorner]

This is great closure. I saw the pain in his face during the election speech. I hope he has time to grieve before returning to he mainland.

[SPQR1052]

As long as America has good mothers she will have strong dutiful sons. R.I.P TOOT.

[liseworks]

In great part, yes - I agree.

[devans00]

I'm so happy to have the diverse Obama, Soetoro-Ngs as our first family. Finally our country leadership will better reflect the diversity of the country.

[PackyJ]

Attending his grandmother's memorial service?
What an elitist!

[AlligatorShuz]

You are either crazy or jealous...

[PippiLongstocking]

He's joking.

[liseworks]

I don't think we can underestimate the role of good, strong women in the early upbringing of young men -

While I give Obama great credit for staying on the good path all his life, I equally honor the 2 women who helped shape him ....

[myangeldog1]

God bless you Toots and thank you for the gift of your brilliant grandson........I'm forever grateful. Rest in peace sweet lady.

[zenaby56]

God bless this family! We are so fortunate to have President-elect Obama as the leader of this Nation. The love and caring of his family is evident in his character.

[joycehelene]

What a beautiful tribute to a very loving Grandmother Toot, the whole country was at the Memorial with your family in spirit , it was a very moving moment.

[leftwingpatriot]

Rightone11

Obama's mother actually played a very important part in Barack's life and the fact that you would say she was never in the picture says volumes about what kind of person you are.
She made sure her son went to best schools even if it meant going on food stamps
Barask's grandmother was a wonderful woman but you cannot ignore his grandfather.
He gave Barack the love and attention that child needs from a father figure. Took him fishing and to ballgames.
Barack had the family most of us wish we had

[jOke]

well said...


i thank God for my family.

[edwarvir]

I am glad the memorial is over. Now him and his family
can begin to heal and feel better. GOD bless
them.

[Last-LiberalRepublicans]

WELL SAID!!