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American Morning

Funeral Service Under Way for Five Drowned Children

Aired June 27, 2001 - 11:33   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: In Houston, Texas, funeral service are getting under way now for five young children who were killed last week, drowned in a bathtub. While the children's mother, who is accused of the killings, remains in jail, their father is delivering their eulogies at the funeral.

For more on the services under way for the five children, let's go now to CNN's Ed Lavandera, standing by in Houston -- Ed.

ED LAVANDERA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Leon, about 30 minutes ago, Russell Yates, arrived with his family. They arrived in three limousines that brought them here to the Clear Lake Church of Christ, which is just a few blocks away from where the Yates' family home is.

To give you an idea of what will be happening inside, as we understand, the service is probably starting as we speak. We've been told that what will happen is that a collage of pictures will be greeting visitors and family as they arrive into the sanctuary -- a collage of pictures of all the different children -- and then the minister, Byron Fike, will begin speaking. The first part of his service will focus on trying to help the congregation inside come to terms with what happened.

And then probably the most difficult of the entire service, Russell Yates will begin his eulogy. We are told that he will speak individually about each of the five children, and as he does so, pictures and images of each child will be put up on a wall for everyone to see. The minister says that he and Mr. Yates have worked long and hard over the last several days exactly what to say, in preparing his words for today's eulogy.

Afterwards, the minister says he will share the story of a Horatio Spafford, who was a man who lived in the 1800s and also lost five children; he's hoping that that story will provide some sort of comfort for the Yates family.

After that, the family will leave the church here and proceed to the cemetery grounds where the children will be laid to rest. We understand that that is a short distance away. Then another small, brief ceremony will take place there -- Leon.

HARRIS: Thank you very much, Ed Lavandera, reporting live from Houston.

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