ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) -- A memorial service for golfer Payne Stewart<br>will be held Friday at the First Baptist Church of Orlando, where<br>Stewart attended services and where his children go to day school.<br>
Tuesday, October 26th 1999, 12:00 am
By: News On 6
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) -- A memorial service for golfer Payne Stewart will be held Friday at the First Baptist Church of Orlando, where Stewart attended services and where his children go to day school.
With 10,000 members, the church is the largest in Orlando and seats more than 5,000 people in its worship center. Stewart had recently donated $500,000 to the church.
Family members were hoping Nashville-based Christian singer Michael W. Smith would perform at the service, said the Rev. Steve Smith, one of the church's 15 pastors.
The Rev. Jim Henry, the church's senior pastor, and the Rev. J.B. Collingsworth, who was especially close to Stewart and his family, were expected to deliver eulogies.
Stewart, 42, and five others were killed Monday when the jet they were in nosedived into a South Dakota field after flying on auto pilot for 1,400 miles across the country.
While Stewart's family made plans for the service, friends continued Tuesday to pay their respects at the Stewarts' gated mansion in the Windermere community, about 10 miles southwest of Orlando. A steady stream of people came to comfort Stewart's wife, Tracey, and their children, 13-year-old Chelsea and 10-year-old Aaron.
Also killed were Stewart's sports agents Robert Fraley, 46, and Van Ardan, 45; and pilots Michael Kling, 43, and Stephanie Bellegarrigue, 27. Also believed to be aboard was Bruce Borland, 40, a golf course designer.
Separate services for Fraley, Ardan and Borland were tentatively scheduled for Thursday. No arrangements had been made for Ms. Bellegarrigue as of Tuesday, said Helena Reidemar, a friend.
Plans for Kling were not immediately available.
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