George Floyd’s funeral in Houston to feature remarks from Joe Biden and the Rev. Al Sharpton

The private funeral in Houston, where Floyd grew up, began midday Tuesday at The Fountain of Praise Church, a day after Floyd’s visitation. Floyd’s golden casket was carried into the church by six men wearing masks on Tuesday morning.

After the service, Floyd’s body will be escorted by the Houston Police Department into Pearland’s Houston Memorial Gardens, according to the city of Pearland. His body will travel the last mile of the procession in a horse-drawn carriage, the city said. He will be buried next to his mother — who Floyd called out for in his final moments.

The service will be a celebration of Floyd’s life, Mia K. Wright, the co-pastor of The Fountain of Praise church, told CNN’s Don Lemon Monday night.

“We celebrate a life that had its ups and downs as many lives do but also a life that was connected to God and one that all people around the world have now connected to because of the tragedy and the trauma by which he passed,” Wright said.

“And so we want to have a home-going celebration, we want to remember his name,” she added.

Wright said the service will include multiple speakers — including civil rights leaders who will “have a call to justice, a call for social reform.”

“It is so important that we move forward from here from a place of healing and wholeness because if we expect change to happen in our community, we can’t come from anger and hurt and loss,” she said. “We have to learn how to move as a whole unit.”

His death sparked global protests

He was born in North Carolina, where hundreds of people lined up Saturday for a public viewing of his casket. Floyd graduated from Jack Yates High School in Houston in 1992, where he helped the football team win the state title. He also played basketball there, Lemon said.

Before moving to Minneapolis, Floyd was well known in the Houston music scene, rapping with a group called Screwed Up Clik (SUC).

Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner and actor Jamie Foxx are among those expected at the funeral, Lemon said.

Floyd died May 25 after former police officer Derek Chauvin pressed his knee into Floyd’s neck for nearly nine minutes during an arrest.

Chauvin has been fired and charged with second-degree murder. Three other officers on the scene were charged with aiding and abetting second-degree murder and aiding and abetting second-degree manslaughter.

Floyd was a role model

On Monday, thousands of mourners gathered at The Fountain of Praise church to pay their respects to Floyd. The memorial was the third stop in a series of events to celebrate his life.

Floyd was a huge role model for a lot of people, his brother, Philonise Floyd, said during Monday’s visitation ceremony.

“He was the first person who everybody looked up to in our neighborhood because he was the first one to get a scholarship to go and play basketball or football when he wanted to do,” Philonise Floyd said.

Floyd was someone who also had a beautiful soul, his younger brother, Rodney Floyd, said.

“If he was told he would have to sacrifice his life to bring the world together, and knowing him, I know he would’ve did it,” Rodney Floyd said.

He added that he’s still processing the death. “It seems unreal because, you know, every day is like waiting on that phone call. I’m still calling his phone number.”