Gregg Allman funeral expecting large crowds in downtown Macon

More than four hours before Gregg Allman’s funeral procession was expected to pass through Macon Saturday, fans were lining Riverside Drive.

Some set up tents, others staked out a spot in the shade for a folding chair.

Pickup trucks were backed up in at least one of the two designated public parking areas near the old Hilton hotel and across from Rose Hill Cemetery where the 69-year-old will be buried near his brother, Duane and bandmate Berry Oakley.

Bibb County sheriff’s deputies have already blocked off Cherry Street between New and First streets where funeral limosines are parked in front of Snow’s Memorial Chapel for a private funeral service beginning at 1 p.m.

Allman, a Florida native who adopted Macon as his hometown when the Allman Brothers Band rose to fame in the 70s, died a week ago at age 69.

Secret Service agents whisked President Jimmy Carter into a back entrance of Snow's Memorial Chapel Saturday afternoon for the funeral of Gregg Allman.

Allman's family and friends began arriving at about noon for the 1 p.m. private service. Carter arrived in a black Chevrolet Suburban, as did Cher, one of Allman's ex-wives who was the last to arrive at about 12:45 p.m..

Others attending include the family of the late Otis Redding Jr., Derek Trucks, son of the late Allman's drummer Butch Trucks who parked his band bus across the street from the funeral home, Paul Hornsby, Jai “Jaimoe” Johanson and Rose Lane Leavell, the wife of Rolling Stones keyboard player Chuck Leavell.

The service is expected to wrap up after 2 p.m. Bibb County Sheriff David Davis expects the funeral procession to take about a half hour to Rose Hill Cemetery. Fans have been waiting in the hot sun for hours to pay their respects.

Come back to macon.com for full live coverage of the Allman funeral and read Sunday’s Telegraph.

This story was originally published June 3, 2017 at 10:55 AM with the headline "Gregg Allman funeral expecting large crowds in downtown Macon."