CHARLOTTE -- Family members and friends gathered at Charlotte's Calvary Church on Tuesday morning to remember Cliff Barrows, the longtime member of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association Ministry.
He passed away at the age of 93 last Tuesday.
Barrows was a close friend of the Rev. Billy Graham and the music director for Graham's worldwide ministry.
"His greatest joy was sharing the Gospel through music," said Rev. Will Graham, grandson of Billy Graham.
Barrows and Graham met in 1945 and spent more than six decades raising their families together, traveling together and sharing the Gospel together. Graham once said there should be a hyphen between his name and Barrows' because they were that close and loyal. However, at 98 years old, Graham's health wouldn't allow him to attend the service.
"He's very much a part of today though he couldn't be here," said Rev. David Bruce, executive assistant to Graham. "They were probably some of the best friends, the two of them."
His family says Barrows willingly took the number two seat to Graham.
"He was glad to do it," said Tal Prince, the son of Ann Barrows, Cliff Barrows' second wife. "He was never concerned about his ego, his image. He was never concerned about that."
Prince and other family members say his primary focus was spreading the Gospel.
"Because God so loved not just his family and friends but the whole world, and Dad lived that," said Bonnie Barrows Thomas, daughter of Cliff Barrows. "Every day of his life."
Barrows was buried at the Billy Graham Library, an honor given to very few people. The library also has a special exhibit about his life and legacy running from today until Nov. 30th.
To learn more about Barrows, visit here.