Photos and videos show the powerful funeral service held for George Floyd in Houston

• George Floyd's friends and family gathered to honor his life at a private funeral in Houston, Texas on Tuesday.
• Floyd's death at the hands of a white police officer has sparked international protests against police brutality and racism for two straight weeks.
• As many as 2,500 people attended the emotional service to celebrate Floyd with stories, memories, and photos. These images and videos show just how powerful it was.

As gospel music played throughout The Fountain of Praise Church in Houston, Texas Tuesday, up to 2,500 people gathered for the private funeral of George Floyd, a 46-year-old Black man who died in a police killing after a white officer knelt on his neck for over 8 minutes in Minneapolis.

The emotional four-hour service, which was broadcast by every major US television station, captured Floyd's family and friends taking to the stage to share memories of the man they knew as "Big Floyd."

The service came in the midst of two straight weeks of protesting, in which hundreds of thousands of Americans have taken to the streets to fight against systemic racism and police brutality.

Artists, musicians, and activists stepped up to the podium at Fountain of Praise to pay homage to Floyd and celebrate his life. In a powerful speech, civil rights activist, Rev. Al Sharpton said of Floyd: "God took the rejected stone and made him the cornerstone of a movement that is going to change the whole wide world."

"Your family is going to miss you George, but your nation is going to always remember your name. Because your neck was one that represents all of us, and how you suffered is how we all suffer," he added.

These images and videos show just how powerful the service was on the day Floyd was laid to rest.

On Tuesday, June 9, up to 2,500 friends, family members, activists, and artists gathered for a private funeral service at The Fountain of Praise Church in Houston to honor the memory of George Floyd.

Family members pause at the casket during the funeral service for George Floyd in the chapel at the Fountain of Praise church June 9, 2020 in Houston, Texas.      David J. Phillip-Pool/Getty Images

Source: Reuters

Members of his family stepped up to the alter to share stories of the man they knew as "Big Floyd," describing him as a "gentle giant," and recounting his dreams, accomplishments, and athletic abilities.

A family member wearing a protective face mask raises her fist while other family members speak during the funeral for George Floyd at The Fountain of Praise church in Houston, Texas, U.S., June 9, 2020. Floyd died after being restrained by Minneapolis Police officers on May 25.      Godofredo A. Vasquez/Pool via REUTERS

Sources: CNN, Reuters

"The world knows George Floyd," said his aunt, Kathleen McGee, as she was surrounded by relatives. "I know him as Perry Jr. He was a pesky little rascal, but we all loved him," she said affectionately.

The family of of George Floyd comes to the podium to speak during the funeral for George Floyd, June 9, 2020, at The Fountain of Praise church in Houston. Floyd died after being restrained by Minneapolis Police officers on May 25.      Godofredo A. Vasquez/Pool via REUTERS

Source: The New York Times

In a heartbreaking speech, George's brother, Philonise Floyd said he wakes up in the middle of the night thinking about him all the time, and called George his "personal superman."

Philonise Floyd puts his arm around his sister LaTonya Floyd as the family speaks during the funeral for George Floyd at The Fountain of Praise church in Houston, Texas, U.S., June 9, 2020. Floyd died after being restrained by Minneapolis Police officers on May 25.      Godofredo A. Vasquez/Pool via REUTERS

Source: Reuters

His niece, Brooke Williams, gave a powerful statement about racial injustice and called for an end to hate crimes."I can breathe. And as long as I'm breathing, justice will be served," she said.

Brooke Williams, the niece of George Floyd, speaks during the funeral service for Floyd at The Fountain of Praise church Tuesday, June 9, 2020, in Houston, Texas, U.S.      David J. Phillip/Pool via REUTERS

Source: Reuters

Adorned in all white, his family sat together as they mourned, embraced one another, and celebrated Floyd's life.

Family attend the funeral service for his brother George Floyd at The Fountain of Praise church Tuesday, June 9, 2020, in Houston.      David J. Phillip/Pool via REUTERS

Family members and friends raised their fists as a symbol of solidarity and mourning.

Philonise Floyd raises his fist as he speaks during the funeral for his brother, George Floyd, at The Fountain of Praise church in Houston, Texas, U.S., June 9, 2020. Floyd died after being restrained by Minneapolis Police officers on May 25.      Godofredo A. Vasquez/Pool via REUTERS

Floyd's daughter Gianna was comforted by her mother.

Roxie Washington (R) and Gianna Floyd, daughter of George Floyd, attend the funeral service in the chapel at the Fountain of Praise church June 9, 2020 in Houston, Texas.      David J. Phillip-Pool/Getty Images

Here, his sisters Zsa Zsa and LaTonya Floyd are seen embracing each other.

George Floyd's sisters Zsa Zsa Floyd and LaTonya Floyd embrace each other during a funeral service for George Floyd at The Fountain of Praise church Tuesday, June 9, 2020, in Houston      David J. Phillip/Pool via REUTERS

Some mourners wore buttons and masks with Floyd's face and his now infamous words, "I can't breathe."

I button that reads "I can't breathe" adorns the jacket of a mourner before the funeral for George Floyd on Tuesday, June 9, 2020, at The Fountain of Praise church in Houston. Floyd died after being restrained by Minneapolis Police officers on May 25.      Godofredo A. Vasquez/Pool via REUTERS

The service was led by the Rev. Al Sharpton, a renowned civil rights activist known for his powerful speeches about justice and racial inequality.

The Rev. Al Sharpton prepares to lead the family of George Floyd into the sanctuary, including Quincy Mason Floyd, son of George Floyd, before the funeral of George Floyd Tuesday, June 9, 2020, at The Fountain of Praise church in Houston. Floyd died after being restrained by Minneapolis Police officers on May 25.      Godofredo A. Vasquez/Pool via REUTERS

Source: National Action Network, Reuters

In this passionate video, Sharpton describes "wickedness in high places" and speaks about the cruelty in suppressing the rights of protesters who demand justice.

he Rev. Al Sharpton speaks at the funeral service for George Floyd in the chapel at the Fountain of Praise church June 9, 2020 in Houston, Texas.      David J. Phillip-Pool/Getty Images

Political representatives in attendance included Reps. Al Green and Sheila Jackson Lee of Texas and Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner. All gave remarks during the service.

U.S. Congressman Al Green speaks to the media as he attends the funeral for George Floyd, whose death in Minneapolis police custody has sparked nationwide protests against racial inequality, at The Fountain of Praise church in Houston, Texas, U.S., June 9, 2020.      REUTERS/Go Nakamura

Source: CNN

Also in attendance were family members of other victims of police brutality including those of Breonna Taylor, Michael Brown and Eric Garner. "All of these families came to stand with this family because they know better than anyone else the pain they will suffer from the loss that they have gone through," Sharpton said.

Gwen Carr, mother of Eric Garner, attends the funeral service for George Floyd in the chapel at the Fountain of Praise church June 9, 2020 in Houston, Texas.      David J. Phillip-Pool/Getty Images

Sources: CNN, New York Times

Floyd's casket was carried by the Houston Police Department in a horse drawn-carriage to the Houston Memorial Gardens cemetery, where he laid to rest.

A man raises his hand in solidarity as the coffin of George Floyd, whose death in Minneapolis police custody has sparked nationwide protests against racial inequality, is seen in a horse-drawn carriage as it enters the Houston Memorial Gardens cemetery in Pearland, Texas, U.S., June 9, 2020.      REUTERS/Adrees Latif

Source: CNN

For about a mile, the white carriage took his body through crowds of people gathering to mourn and say their final goodbyes.

The horse-drawn carriage carrying the casket containing the body of George Floyd, whose death in Minneapolis police custody has sparked nationwide protests against racial inequality, pass by on its way to Houston Memorial Gardens cemetery in Pearland, Texas, U.S., June 9, 2020.      REUTERS/Carlos Barria

Source: CNN

As the carriage passed by, crowds of people were heard yelling out, "Say his name," and "George Floyd."

People gather as the horse-drawn carriage carrying the casket containing the body of George Floyd, whose death in Minneapolis police custody has sparked nationwide protests against racial inequality, pass by on its way to Houston Memorial Gardens cemetery in Pearland, Texas, U.S., June 9, 2020.      REUTERS/Carlos Barria

Source: CNN

Floyd was buried next to his mother in the cemetery where visitors have adorned his gravesite with flowers.

People visit the gravesite of George Floyd, whose death in Minneapolis police custody has sparked nationwide protests against racial inequality, in Pearland, Texas, U.S., June 9, 2020.      REUTERS/Callaghan O'Hare

Sources: CNN, Reuters

Over the past two weeks, a number of memorials, vigils, and murals have been made across the country to honor Floyd.

Protesters gather at a memorial for George Floyd where he died outside Cup Foods on East 38th Street and Chicago Avenue, Monday, June 1, 2020, in Minneapolis. Protests continued following the death of Floyd, who died after being restrained by Minneapolis police officers on May 25.      AP Photo/John Minchillo

Since Floyd's death, hundreds of thousands of protesters in all 50 states have taken to the streets to demand justice for him, and to put an end to police brutality and racism in America.

Cooper Neill / Stringer / Getty Images

Source: Insider