Houston Mayor John Whitmire referred to former mayor Sylvester Turner as the "best he had to follow" as he welcomed those outside of City Hall Tuesday morning to pay their respects to the late congressman.

Former Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner was honored with a public memorial at City Hall, where mourners gathered to pay their respects and sign a book of condolences.

Turner, the Houston Congressman who died last week at age 70, is lying in state at City Hall until 7 p.m. Tuesday. Those who knew him well described him as a hard worker who also “liked to have a good time.