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Funeral Wednesday in El Paso for actor Hemsley

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EL PASO, Texas (AP) — Services will be held Wednesday in West Texas for actor Sherman Hemsley who died in July but an estate fight delayed his burial.

San Jose Funeral Home in El Paso has announced Hemsley's funeral will be at noon Wednesday at Cielo (see-AY'-loh) Vista Church. Burial will follow at Fort Bliss National Cemetery. Funeral home officials say the services are open to the public.

Hemsley served in the Air Force before turning to acting and gaining fame as George Jefferson on the TV sitcom "The Jeffersons." He died July 24 of lung cancer.

Hemsley's will named his longtime friend Flora Enchinton Bernal as his heir. His half-brother from Philadelphia, Richard Thornton, challenged the will.

A judge in El Paso on Nov. 9 ruled the will is valid.

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