Chris Smith Weeps in Chris Kelly's Funeral

The other half of rap duo Kris Kross shows up
at Kelly's funeral and delivers a teary speech
about his childhood friend, who died from
possible drug overdose early this month.
Chris
Smith
attended
Chris
Kelly's
funeral at
Jackson
Baptist
Memorial
Church on Thursday afternoon, May 9. Being
supported by his sister at the podium, Smith,
who was wearing his pants backwards in
tribute to Kelly, was shaken and weeping when
talking about his Kris Kross partner.
"This has been a struggle for me every day,"
Smith began. "But there was a peace that came
over me this morning because I know he's in
heaven." He turned to Kelly's mother, Donna
Kelly Pratte, and said, "Donna, you've always
been like a mother to me. I know I can't fill
Chris' shoes, but I'll always be there for you."
"He was a true friend... I just wanna say I love
you, man... and I'm gonna miss you dearly,"
Smith continued. "I would say Kris Kross
forever, but without Chris, it ain't never gonna
be the same. But I hope our legacy for hip-
hop is never forgotten, but I'm gonna do my
part to make sure Chris' memory lives on."
Rapper Da Brat and producer who discovered
Kris Kross in early 1990s, Jermaine Dupri, also
wore their pants backwards when attending the
funeral. "He just wanted to smile. That's all he
wanted," said Xscape 's Tamika Scott. "He was
known to be a happy person."
Mother Pratte was also weeping while
continuously staring at her son's casket.
"Please don't close it. Please don't close it on
my baby," she screamed when the deacons
were about to close the coffin.
Kelly died at 34 from possible heroin and
cocaine overdose on Wednesday, May 1. A
public viewing was held at Murray Brothers
Funeral Home, Atlanta, on Wednesday, May 8
with hundreds of family members and friends
attending.