CORDOVA, S.C. - Standing over her son's silver casket, Harriet Johnson cried as she and hundreds of friends and family honored Spc. Darius Jennings, who was killed two weeks ago when the helicopter he was riding in was shot down in Iraq.

The Rev. Al Sharpton eulogized Jennings at his funeral Saturday, and the Democratic presidential candidate offered comfort to the family.

But he said he didn't come to this small, rural town as a candidate.

"Today is not about politics. Today is not about Bush. Today is about a young man who came out of this community," Sharpton said. "It doesn't matter whether we're for the war or against the war. I've been against the war, but ... no one is against those who gave their lives for all of us."

Sharpton was the second Democratic presidential hopeful to visit the family that has been outspoken about the war in Iraq since Jennings' death.

Retired Gen. Wesley Clark also visited the Johnsons during a campaign stop here last week because he said he knew the community was hurting.

Jennings was the third soldier from Orangeburg-Wilkinson High School to die in the war in Iraq. Army Sgt. Anthony Thompson, 26, and Pfc. Vorn J. Mack, 19 also died.

Those who knew Jennings said he loved cars and his mother. His former teacher Dorthea Boyd said he grew up when he decided to join the Army, and his mother should be proud.

"You hold your head up high," Boyd said. "Because your mama's boy is now a man."

Jennings last spoke to relatives Oct. 29. He died Nov. 2 - just 11 days shy of his 23rd birthday. He was on his way home for two weeks of leave.

He was one of 16 soldiers killed and more than 20 who were critically injured when the CH-47 Chinook helicopter transporting soldiers away from action was struck in Al Fallujah, Iraq.

During Saturday's service, members of Bravo Company, 187th Ordnance Division, of Fort Jackson, gave Jennings' family the Bronze Star and Purple Heart.

Another South Carolinian who died in the Iraq war was buried Saturday in Michigan. Staff Sgt. Paul Neff II, 30, of Fort Mill, was killed earlier this month when his Black Hawk helicopter crashed in Iraq.