Nearly 1,000 attend ex-Choctaw chief’s funeral

PHILADELPHIA, Miss. (AP) – Nearly 1,000 people gathered Monday for the funeral of Phillip Martin, the former chief of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians.

Martin served as the tribal chief for 28 years until his election defeat in 2007. He died Thursday after suffering a massive stroke on Feb. 1.

The Clarion-Ledger reports that only 150 of the mourners at his funeral could be seated in Holy Rosary Catholic Church in the Tucker community. The rest stood outside shivering in the cold.

The Rev. Bob Goodyear told mourners that Martin will always be recognized for the prosperity he brought his people. The tribe operates casinos and other businesses in Neshoba County.

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Information from: The Clarion-Ledger,
http://www.clarionledger.com