NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Al Copeland's white Bentley, his white Rolls-Royce and a dozen gleaming white limousines led the funeral procession that escorted the body of the flamboyant fast-food millionaire from a majestic church on historic St. Charles Avenue to a mausoleum surrounded by his race cars, motorcycles and a sleek speedboat. The send-off drew roughly a thousand people, some in expensive suits others in everyday work garb, to Holy Name of Jesus Church, where they lined up to pay final respects to Copeland, who was 64 when he died March 23.

"He spent the end of his life not trying to make a buck but finding his faith," said Al Copeland Jr., his son and the CEO of Al Copeland Investments, a private company that owns a line of restaurants, hotels, spice manufacturer and comedy clubs.

His son recalled frying him chicken a la Popeyes at his bedside in Germany.

"Of course, it wasn't quite right," he said at an intimate entombment ceremony at the Copeland mausoleum in Metairie Cemetery, the resting place of numerous Louisiana governors, New Orleans mayors, Confederate Gen. P.G.T. Beauregard and Dixieland jazz musician Louis Prima.

A sampling of Copeland's sports vehicle collection framed the area. Arranged on the cemetery's lawn were several brightly colored NASCAR-style cars, multimillion-dollar sports cars, monster trucks and a flame-adorned speedboat.

"Al's going out big. He's got all his toys here," said Eric Paulson, a morning television news anchor and the master of ceremonies.

Copeland's casket was borne to the mausoleum on a horse-drawn carriage and accompanied by a brass band playing the tune "My Way," popularized by singer Frank Sinatra. In honor of his favorite number, 11, 111 balloons and 11 doves were released into the sky.

Mourners expressed admiration for Copeland's rags-to-riches story: He grew up poor in New Orleans, sold his car at age 18 to open a doughnut shop and eventually found major success with his spicy, Cajun-style fried chicken, growing a single store started in 1971 to a major chain.

"He grew up from a poor family. He beat the odds. Look at him," Marter said, gesturing toward the luxury cars outside the church.

Copeland's hobbies included racing 50-foot powerboats, touring New Orleans in Rolls-Royces and Lamborghinis, and outfitting his Lake Pontchartrain home with lavish Christmas decorations, including half a million lights and a three-story-tall snowman. The display drew huge crowds — and a lawsuit in 1983 from neighbors who said the resulting traffic held them hostage in their own homes.

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