Steve McNair's family, friends, former teammates and coaches gathered Thursday night along with thousands of fans to remember the slain ex-NFL quarterback's accomplishments on and off the field.
Ravens receiver Derrick Mason, who played with McNair in both Tennessee and Baltimore, called the loss heartbreaking.
"I still remember that smile of his," Mason said before heading into Mount Zion Baptist Church, where he was to speak at the memorial service. "That'll never grow old."
Fans lined up starting Thursday morning to view McNair's closed silvery-gray casket at a funeral home and later outside the church. A helicopter provided live TV footage as McNair's body was moved by hearse, and three of four local TV stations showed the memorial service live.
McNair's casket was on display at Mount Zion, where he had attended services since moving to Nashville in 1997. It was flanked by a large photo of him posing with his 2003 NFL MVP award on the right and another of him holding a football on the left.
McNair, who was married, was shot to death at his condo early Saturday by his 20-year-old girlfriend, Sahel Kazemi, who then turned the gun on herself. Police said her life was spinning out of control. But that wasn't how those who knew him chose to remember him.
Bishop James W. Walker III opened the service by calling McNair one of Nashville's own.
And that's the Steve Mcnair Memorial Service, Steve Mcnair Funeral
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