The St. Luke the Evangelist Church in Slidell was packed Tuesday with family, friends, city leaders and other mourners who bid a sad but fond farewell to Slidell Councilman Kevin Kingston, who died Thursday.

Kingston, a 10-year veteran of the City Council, was lauded by family, friends and city colleagues for his generosity and kindness.

The Rev. Lanaux Rareshide, who gave the homily, said the reason there were so many people at the funeral was because of Kingston’s big heart and kind spirit.

Pallbearers take the casket of Slidell City Councilman Kevin Kingston to an awaiting hearst following the funeral Tuesday with Kingston'€™s wife, Belinda, following behind. Shown carrying the casket are Allen Beaucoudray, left, and Timothy Kingston, C.J. Dunaway and Walter Reed. (Staff Photo by Erik Sanzenbach)

“How much we loved him, and how much he loves us all,” Rareshide said.

Kingston died after a long battle with liver disease that included a liver transplant in 2003. During the final week of his life, Kingston was at home among his family and friends, and he had a lot of friends who came to pay their final respects.

“He turned all acquaintances into friends,” Parish Council President Jerry Binder said. “When he got offended, he chose friendship over anger.”

The theme of Kingston’s generosity was a constant theme from all the people who spoke at the funeral.

“Kevin was a caregiver,” former City Council member Elsie Burkhalter said. “He paid people’s water and light bills. He paid for other people’s family reunions. He would sacrifice of himself to help others.”

Several speakers, like his old friend C.J. Dunaway Jr., spoke of Kingston as the modern-day Huey Long in his generosity to the common man. In fact, Dunaway said, Kingston’s nickname was “Kingfish.” As Mayor Ben Morris said, Kingston “was truly a man of the people.”

Kingston’s sister, Jackie Kidd, told mourners his lust for life was what drove him to do what he did.

“He opened his heart to everyone. He went out of his way to make everybody happy,” Kidd said. “His life was a big party, and he wanted everyone to join in the party.”

Kingston’s gusto for life and food was remembered by Binder, who reminded the audience how much Kingston loved to cook for everybody.

“I imagine Kevin up in Heaven offering his guardian angel some free gumbo,” Binder said. “That was the joy of Kevin.”

After the funeral Mass, Kingston was laid to rest in the Forest Lawn Cemetery on Gause Boulevard. After that, the Kingston family invited all friends and Slidell citizens to attend a party in Kingston’s honor at the Slidell Municipal Auditorium. That would be something Kevin Kingston would have done to celebrate life, they said.

“He was a loving person in all his relationships, and we are going to miss him,” Dunaway said.