Passionate farewells for Etta James

The setting sun cast a golden glow Friday over hundreds of mourners who came to pay their respects to singer Etta James at the Inglewood Cemetery Mortuary.

People began lining up an hour before the viewing began, reminiscing about their favorite songs as her voice boomed from chapel’s speakers.

“Whenever I hear that song, I freeze,” Donald Hicks, 67, of Inglewood said about James’ mega-hit “At Last.” “I even pull over when it comes on.”

Many in attendance viewed James as a close family friend after years of inviting her into their homes via their stereo speakers. The singer died Jan. 20 in Riverside of complications from leukemia

Gloria Ann Rodriguez, who sent flowers to the chapel on behalf of her family and fans everywhere, burst into tears when she entered the viewing area.

Rodriguez, 61, and Victoria Chavez, 60, of South Gate, met in college and shared a passion for James’ music. They went to see her open for Van Morrison in Anaheim about 40 years ago and were disappointed the crowd didn’t give her the respect they believed she deserved.

Morrison also caught on to the vibe, they said, and sang with his back to the crowd to honor his friend.

“He knew how great she was and he wasn’t going to let anyone treat her like that,” Rodriguez said, wiping away tears.

Those who knew James personally swapped memories and laughed about her no-holds-barred attitude.

“She used to call me Susie Cream Cheese,” said Steven Davis, James’ personal assistant and emcee from 2000 to 2009. “It means a man who is kind of soft, and she didn’t like that. She would always tell it like it was.”

Yoshann Rush, whom James used to call “Cleveland,” kept his sunglasses on even after the sun had set. He thought for a second about the woman who treated him as her own son and smiled.

“She was as beautiful as she sang.”

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dalina.castellanos@latimes.com