Hundreds of Newark residents have accompanied the casket of Congressman Donald Payne to the city church where he will be eulogized.

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About 300 people followed the horse-drawn carriage on a half-mile route from a funeral home to the Metropolitan Baptist Church on Tuesday afternoon. Hundreds more lined the streets.

Funeral services are scheduled for Wednesday morning.

The 77-year-old Payne passed away last week from colon cancer. He had been undergoing treatment in Washington and was flown to New Jersey days before he died.

The 12-term Democrat became New Jersey's first black congressional member in 1988. He was a member of House committees on education and foreign affairs and served as chairman of the House subcommittee on Africa.

(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)

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