This story was updated to correct the spelling of Leslie Allen Jordan's middle name.
As expected, it was an evening of surprises Sunday night at Memorial Auditorium, where about 1,700 people gathered for "Love. Light. Leslie. A Sunday Hymn Singin' to Celebrate Leslie Jordan."
The Chattanooga-born-and-raised actor, writer, singer, author died Oct. 24 in Los Angeles, and friends and family gathered to laugh, cry and remember a man who brought love, light and laughter to so many.
(READ MORE: Chattanooga comedian Leslie Jordan dies in LA crash)
Chattanooga Mayor Tim Kelly opened the evening via a video message, telling the audience he first met Jordan in the early '80s when Jordan was a waiter at Vine Street Market and Kelly got his first job as a dishwasher there at the age of 15. He added that Jordan was always friendly and always helpful and even plucked him to be a drummer in the band he put together as part of his series of shows designed to help him raise money to move to Los Angeles.
(READ MORE: Leslie Jordan celebration of life in Chattanooga to feature comedy, music, memories)
One of the biggest surprises of the evening came shortly after when Senior Advisor to the Mayor Chris Anderson read a proclamation designating the road in front of the Chattanooga Theatre Centre as Leslie Allen Jordan Way.
Several speakers Sunday noted that Jordan had a conflicted view of growing up Southern Baptist for many years, but with age, came to accept who he was and how he was raised.
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Thousands turn out for ‘Love. Light. Leslie.’ to celebrate Leslie Jordan in Chattanooga
In one of the more poignant moments of the night, which included comedy from Leanne Morgan, music from the Leslie Jordan's Hunker Downer band, and a cameo from country artist Blanco Brown, Jordan's cousin, Jeff Davis, noted how appropriate it was that the street should be called "Way" and not "Street" or "Road."
(READ MORE: 'Sunday Hymn Singin’ Celebrating Leslie Jordan' set for Nov. 20 at Memorial Auditorium)
"Way has some action to it," Davis said, pointing out that the earliest Christian movement was known as a way to live one's life. His cousin, he said, knew the way to live his life.
"He knew who he was, and he knew God didn't make mistakes," he said.
The evening was hosted by Del Shores, Jordan's friend of almost four decades and author of several productions such as "Sordid Lives" that starred Jordan.
Jordan, who was always open about his sexuality, has said in past interviews that he spent the first 25 years of his life trying to get out of Chattanooga, and the last 25 trying to get back here to be with his mother, Peggy, and twin sisters, Janet and Jana, who many know by her nickname, "Cricket."
(READ MORE: Leslie Jordan grand marshal of Chattanooga's 2022 Riverbend Festival)
Janet died in April, and Peggy died in May. Jana thanked the many lifelong friends who attended the evening while wearing a colorful shiny jacket her brother wore on the first episode of "Call Me Kat," his most recent TV series.
She said prior to the show while rehearsing her speech that it meant a great deal to her that so many people came out for the event and that the city offered to make it happen.
The Hunker Downers played songs from Jordan's "Company's Comin'," a collection of gospel hymns. Also, throughout the evening, messages from celebrities such as Eddie Vedder, Beau Bridges, Beverly D'Anglelo, Delta Burke Newell and Rosemary Alexander played on a large screen behind the band.
The Alexanders were longtime friends and associates of Jordan and appeared last week with Jordan on an episode of "Celebrity IOU" with reality TV stars Jonathan and Drew Scott. Jordan and the Scotts surprised the Alexanders with a home makeover on the show.
It was an evening of laughs and tears for many, and it came to an end after nearly 2 1/2 hours with an emotional rendition of "Blessed Assurance," a hymn Jordan said via video was his mother's favorite.
As Jordan's voice filled the auditorium with the opening verse, members of the Signal Mountain United Methodist Choir filled the stage. A spotlight lit up a lone microphone stand, which was set at probably its lowest setting in reference to Jordan's 4-feet, 11-inch stature.
Proceeds from the evening went to Cempa Community Care, an organization that supports people with HIV and AIDS.
Contact Barry Courter at bcourter@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6354. Follow him on Twitter @BarryJC.
Donate to Cempa Community Care
https://chattanoogacares.kindful.com/