A state funeral will be held today for former Attorney General Paul Adderley who passed away last week at the age of 84.

Governor General Sir Arthur Foulkes and Prime Minister Perry Christie were among those who viewed Mr. Adderley’s body as it lay in state in the foyer of the House of Assembly Thursday.

“He [Mr. Adderley] had been a part of my life for a long time – there’s a real special feeling – a special love, empathy whatever it is and I was like a son that he never had,” Mr. Christie said after paying his respects and meeting briefly with Mr. Adderley’s family.

The prime minister also noted that the government has already begun exploring how best to honour Mr. Adderley.

“I don’t want to pre-empt Nicolette Bethel and Charles Carter (Co-chairs of the 40th Anniversary of Independence celebrations committee) I expect them to, in a very deliberative way, determine how best to honour Mr. Adderley,” Mr. Christie said.

“It’s going to be very important that we do that – whether that’s one of the notes of the currency of The Bahamas –whether that’s with a statue or naming a street or building after him – those are things that are best left to people who were not as close to him to as I was to think and to be able to do properly.”

Mr. Adderley was one of the longest serving attorneys general.

He also held a number of ministerial posts in the Pindling administration.

Considered one of the “most brilliant legal minds in the country,” Mr. Adderley is also regarded as one of the framers of The Bahamas’ constitution.

“Paul was always a very quiet man and I remember him as kind,” said former Governor General Dame Ivy Dumont.

Mr. Adderley’s sate funeral will take place at Christ Church Cathedral at 11:00 a.m. today.

His body will be laid to rest at the Western Cemetery.