Photo credit: Christian Gooden

The Rose Man was laid to rest just as those who knew him would expect — in a red suit and white hat decorated with a red band.

An endless stream of well-wishers, including Mayor Francis Slay, packed into Austin Layne Renaissance Chapel Friday afternoon to say goodbye to Lee “the Rose Man” Nixon, the local icon who sold roses and other niceties in area nightclubs for over 30 years.

Nixon was shot by random gunfire early Monday at a Washington Park lounge, and died later that morning.

Slay issued a proclamation in Nixon’s name. Among the others seen Friday at the visitation were a number of area nightclub owners and promoters, radio personalities, artists, business and political persons, and friends. Among them were Kiki the First Lady, Coco Soul, DJ Cuddy, BJ the DJ, Tom Bailey, and Craig Spruill.

“Every club I’ve ever hosted he was always there,” said entertainment hostess Erica Jones, known as Miss Minnow.

His burial was Saturday morning, and a Nixon tribute is at 8 p.m. Sunday at the Loft.

Photo: Lee Nixon’s partner, Dora Anderson, left, is offered condolences by Erica Jones, a.ka. entertainment hostess Miss Minnow, during visitation for Nixon at Austin Layne Renaissance Chapel in Jennings.