ATLANTA — While lawmakers greeted the casket carrying the late Congressman John Lewis on the steps of the Georgia State Capitol, hundreds of people lined the sidewalks across the street to say goodbye to a man they considered a friend.

On the last stop of a long celebration of life — a journey from Alabama to Washington, D.C. and finally to Atlanta — Lewis lie under the Gold Dome Wednesday.

Although originally from Alabama, Georgia came to know Lewis as one of its own. The lawmaker was reelected to serve the 5th Congressional District 16 times.

Before he will be laid to rest Thursday next to his wife, Lillian, who died in 2012, lawmakers and constituents mourned Lewis in the rotunda of the Capitol building.

A private ceremony for lawmakers and family hosted guests such as Martin Luther King III and his 12-year-old daughter, Yolanda King.

Gov. Brian Kemp and Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms — locked in a lawsuit over COVID-19 restrictions — both spoke. Kemp presented the Lewis family a Georgia state flag.

“At home in the 5th District, this legendary freedom fighter was a friendly neighborhood face, serving his constituents selflessly and with open arms,” Kemp said. “In our country’s most trying moments, Congressman Lewis taught us the lesson of joyful, steadfast commitment to ideals bigger than one man or one movement.”

Rep. Karen Bennett, D-Stone Mountain, who is the head of the Legislative Black Caucus called the memorial a “somber celebration” of Lewis who many called the “conscience of Congress.”

“Congressman Lewis was a gentle giant of a man who marched and prayed so that others could live their best life,” she said.

Rep. Calvin Smyre, D-Columbus, the longest serving member of the Georgia House, said Lewis’ death is as if “a giant redwood tree has fallen in the Georgia forest of life.”

“We must keep the faith, and that’s our moral obligation,” he said. “Never become bitter, never hate. We are one people. There may be some setbacks, but we all must keep the faith. Never give up. Never give up. That’s our calling.”

Before hundreds poured into the building and waited for their chance to pay respects to the Congressman, people in line shared stories of someone they considered their neighbor.

Nathan Knight, 73, cried while holding a picture of Lewis amidst the crowd.

“We’re here today because John Lewis fought for humanity — not just civil rights,” he said. “He was beaten down but he got back up. That’s why we’re all here today.”

Bruce Griggs traveled to all the stops on Lewis’ celebration of life tour with what he proclaimed the “world’s largest sympathy card” — an eight-foot-tall letter to the beloved civil rights icon.

On the corner of Washington and Mitchell streets, he beckoned visitors to sign their condolences.

“Today and everyday,” he said, “is in the honor of John Lewis.”