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

[Shashi0224]

What a wonderful, strong, intelligent woman she must have been to help raise such an outstanding man. We owe her a world of thanks. I wish the Obama family, our First Family, a warm, loving, peaceful Christmas and a New Year filled with only the very best. He is the best for us!!

[laylahb]

I remember that in one post-election interview Pres-Elect Obama mentioned that she had voted for him before she died. I hope that the Governor and Secretary of State were able to give him her signed absente ballot.

[mlaiuppa]

They would have no way of knowing which was her ballot. Voting is anonymous. Only the envelope is signed, not the ballot.

[FACINGREALIT]

I was happy to hear that they allowed her vote to count. That memory in itself will serve him well as he lead this country to greatness. Happy Holidays Mr. PEOTUS - and Family.

[Seb348]

Young, black and beautiful!!! I love our first family. I love his name, his features, that black man swagger he has, the way he makes presidents cool by listening to: hip hop, playing basketball and that deep voice.

[loveobamas]

WELL SAID

[dissanayake]

Not to mention that he has a Hot body, takes a lot of getting used to, I feel guilty, just looking!

[Gladys1963]

VERY well said!

=^..^=

[KitChandler]

The Hawaiian word for grandmother is "tutu" hence the word shortened to "Tut."

Nevertheless, however it is spelled, she was a marvelous woman and grandmother. May she rest in peace and may God bless PE Obama and his family.

[elr50]

My 88 year old father died the same day as Obama's grandmother. I share his grief. This Christmas will not be an easy one for either of us. My prayers are with him.

[davispty5]

I'm sorry for your loss elr50. May you find peace in the memories of your father and may God bless you.

[Kiabell04]

What a sweet story. I think this is something that the media should pick up on. I hate that the family members dear to him could not make it to see him make history, but they are with him in spirit. RIP Toot.

[wanttruth]

I'm glad that President-elect Obama took time to see his grandmother before she died. Those memories will give him comfort as he goes on with his life.

[Seattlelite]

Really sad his grandmother didn't see him become President, however I'm sure she was satisfied and content to know she raised such a wonderful accomplished man. Rest in Peace Toot and thank you.

[protagonia]

Rightone11,

The average racist would no more refer to themselves as such than a doorknob would call itself a doorknob. It has no idea what it is, but only to remain in the middle-right of the door.

PS: Your production line of Christmas wishes loses what shallow intent they may have had at first, becoming a blow-off of bird-flip proportions.

[lizziekw]

I'm so glad that he took the time out from the campaign trail to go and see his grandmother before she died. All the Republican pot-stirrers complaining about it at the time should be ashamed of themselves.

I don't believe in any sort of afterlife but I do believe that Madelyn Dunham knew that Barack Obama would be President of the United States before she died. She must have been so proud of the man she raised and what he accomplished.

[Roma6888]

Too, Thank You for giving us such a great human being and great President Elect. We will forever owe you this one Too.

[MissKaren]

I agree with that. Her contribution to my life as an American and to the country as a whole is only starting to be felt.

[Episcopagan]

RIP, Toot

[WenJ]

I watched the rally in Charlotte NC when he told the crowd that his grandmother had passed. He cried and I cried watching him. It was obvious he was heartbroken, but he carried on once he composed himself. I think the pictures taken while he was in Hawaii visiting her for the last time told us all something. He looked so sad and could not even take a walk in his neighborhood alone to contemplate the seriousness of her illness. I know they were happy to see each other one last time. This woman took a clerical job in a bank to be able to afford to put him into the private school he attended as a child. As he excelled and progressed, so did she, eventually becoming VP of that bank. She taught him well and she taught him by example. Fly with the wind, Toot, you'll always live in the hearts of those that love you and you'll always be the foundation of all that your grandson has achieved.

[ABCD]

Well Said -

[NWDem]

Obama is so lucky to have had such nurturing and loving grandparents. I wish I had.

[lafrance]

God bless Toot.
I think Toot passed away, even though it was before the election, that her grandson was going to be the president.

[PuddingPop]

What a nice thing to do on Christmas Eve- celebrate the life of someone you loved. God bless the family.