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Mississippi Capitol Hosts Funeral of Former US Sen. Cochran

The first of two funeral services for Thad Cochran is taking place Monday at the Mississippi Capitol in Jackson. The second is on Tuesday at a church in the city. Photo courtesy U.S. Senate

The first of two funeral services for Thad Cochran is taking place Monday at the Mississippi Capitol in Jackson. The second is on Tuesday at a church in the city. Photo courtesy U.S. Senate

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — Flags in Mississippi are flying at half-staff to honor a Republican former U.S. senator who brought billions of dollars to the state.

The first of two funeral services for Thad Cochran is taking place Monday at the Mississippi Capitol in Jackson. The second is on Tuesday at a church in the city.

Cochran was 81 when he died Thursday in a veterans' nursing home in Oxford, Mississippi.

He was the 10th longest-serving U.S. senator in history.

Cochran was elected to the U.S. House in 1972 and to the Senate in 1978, wielding power for several years as chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee. He retired in April 2018.

Cochran was dubbed the "Quiet Persuader" because of his gentlemanly demeanor. He was also known for working across party lines.

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