Lacy Robinson shares what it was like to attend memorial service for Lisa Marie Presley

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Lacy Robinson Photo

Lacy Robinson of Louisville has been an Elvis Presley fan her entire life, so she knew she had to go the memorial service for Lisa Marie Presley, Elvis’ daughter, last Sunday in Memphis.

She didn’t mind arriving at Graceland at 4 a.m. Sunday to get a spot in line or the cold, chilly weather. She was appreciative of the opportunity to be here and also be part of the processional to the grave site after the memorial.

Robinson joined us on WLAP Sunday Morning Sports Talk to share her experience, was interviewed by NBC Nightly News at the service and was on WPBK-FM with myself and Tim Estes Thursday.

Here are some of her thoughts on what she saw and experienced during her time in Memphis last weekend:

On being an Elvis Presley fan…

“I have been a fan of Elvis Presley my entire life. Learning about Elvis and following his life and legacy naturally led to caring about Lisa Marie. For Elvis fans it’s about so much more than his music. My best friend, Lauren and I have been Elvis fans since elementary school. Thirty years ago, Lauren and I hosted an Elvis memorial at a local park. I had cups, plates, and napkins with Johnson Funeral Home printed on them which were left over from my grandfather’s funeral. We marked out Johnson and Home and wrote Elvis before the funeral. Growing up we were always looking for ways to honor Elvis. Our shared interest in all things Elvis is the foundation of our friendship.”

On Lisa Marie’s legacy…

“Lisa Marie was a fierce protector of her father’s legacy. She understood the strong feelings fans had for Elvis and she embraced the opportunities to connect with fans while continuing to build the Elvis brand. I was also very touched when I read David Kessler’s Instagram post about Lisa Marie opening her home to other bereaved parents to co-lead grief support meetings. Lisa Marie will always be remembered for connecting with people on a very personal level.”

On the service highlights…

“Music, of course, played an important part of Lisa Marie’s tribute. In fact, Elvis hymns played for two hours leading up to the memorial starting and the entire time people were in the procession for Mediation Garden. We appreciated that detail planned by event coordinators, but it was the performances of Jason Clark & The Tennessee Mass Choir and The Blackwood Brothers Quartet that brought healing harmony to all.

“Billy Blackwood recalled the time when Elvis introduced his baby girl Lisa Marie to both him and his father, James Blackwood, Sr., and shared that his father sang at the funeral for Elvis’ mother Gladys and the quartet performed at Elvis’ funeral. The Blackwood Brothers Quartet was truly honored to perform Elvis’ favorite hymns, ‘How Great Thou Art’ and ‘Sweet, Sweet Spirit’ at Lisa Marie’s service.

“Lauren and I were also really touched by Jerry Schilling’s eulogy. He was one of Elvis’ closest friends and worked closely with Lisa Marie. Jerry shared details about Lisa Marie being the first baby he had ever held and his nickname for Lisa Marie was ‘Memphis.’ He was there the day she was born, escorted her to the Golden Globes and at the hospital when she died. The heartbreak in his voice was palpable to all in attendance. Priscilla Presley read a poem written by one of Lisa Marie’s twin daughters and delivered a poignant eulogy as well. I’ll never forget Priscilla’s final words, ‘But the old soul is always with me. She doesn’t drift above. That says it all and thank you all for being here. Our heart is broken. Lisa, we all love you.’

“Lisa Marie’s son-in-law, Ben Smith-Peterson read a letter written by Lisa Marie’s daughter Riley. The entire letter was incredibly touching and revealed that Lisa Marie had a granddaughter. Riley wrote, ‘I hope I can love my daughter the way you loved me, the way you loved my brother and my sisters.’ We could feel the reaction from the crowd when it was revealed that Lisa Marie was a grandmother, which was not made public prior to the memorial service.”

On what Lisa Marie meant to Memphis…

“Former Memphis Mayor A C Wharton spoke at the service and made the statement “Lisa Marie’s birth is woven into the institutional memory of this city … she was the image of a king. Elvis may have been born in Tupelo and Priscilla may have started in Dallas. But Lisa Marie was all Memphis. The city of Memphis will always be an integral part of Lisa Marie’s persona. It was great to hear the former Memphis mayor share his memories of Lisa Marie and what she meant to the city of Memphis.”

On her hotel experience…

“I was successful in quickly booking a room at the Courtyard Marriott which is less than three miles from Graceland. The convenient location of the Courtyard Marriott was great, but it was the hospitality this hotel demonstrated for those attending the memorial that was most impressive. There was a beautifully written tribute from the general manager honoring the life of Lisa Marie with an invitation to have peanut butter banana sandwiches and wine in the lobby. The hotel also offered a complimentary shuttle to and from Graceland for guests. It was evident that the city of Memphis
truly loved and cared about Lisa Marie.”

Lisa Marie Presley Memorial Service

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