Jim Henson ' s Memorial Following the death of Jim Henson , two distinct memorial services were held , both of which featured Muppet performances . The two events have often been conflated with each other . Moreover , both have been confused by fans with the actual funeral . The event was also twice referred to as " Jim Henson ' s funeral " in the Australia n paper " Courier / Mail " , in separate articles from 1990 and 2004 , and elsewhere in the media . In addition , occasional rumors have claimed that the memorial ( singular ) was televised ; on the contrary , despite brief clips in documentaries and news reports , neither event was recorded for television . As noted by one journalist , about the London event , " The only sadness about the memorial service for Jim Henson at St Paul ' s was that no one televised it . " Both events were open to the public ; the only stipulation , from instructions drafted by Henson in 1986 , were that no one in attendance wear black . The other notable request was for the presence of a jazz band . Both services were held in famous cathedrals ; the first was held in New York City , and the second in London , to thus accommodate a greater number of Muppet performers , staff , and friends from the two regions where Henson had done the bulk of his work . The programs for both were fairly similar , but not identical ; both combined hymns and Bible readings with remembrances from family and friends and Muppet performances , and both featured a solo by Big Bird and a gathered mass of puppeteers and Muppets for " Just One Person " as the closing song . An excerpt from a letter written by Henson four years before his death and addressed to his children was printed on the programs for both : " Please watch out for each other and love and forgive everybody . It ' s a good life , enjoy it . " Brian Henson also read this excerpt , along with several others , during the St . John ' s Memorial service . Another memorable quote touched on Jim Henson ' s feelings about death : " It feels strange writing this kind of thing while I ' m still alive , but it wouldn ' t be easy to do after I go . " St . John ' s Memorial . The New York memorial was held at the Cathedral of St . John the Divine on May 21 , 1990 , just five days after Henson ' s death . ( Less than two years later , the same cathedral would host the memorial for Richard Hunt . ) The service began with an organ rendition of the Sesame Street theme song , and " Rainbow Connection " from " The Muppet Movie " . Then the Dirty Dozen Brass Band entered , playing " A Closer Walk with Thee " , followed by clergy , the church choir , and family . Harry Belafonte was present , paying tribute to Henson : " There is no question about Jim Henson ' s great artistry and the extent to which we have all been touched by it . Greater than his artistry was his humanity . " Colorful butterflies on metal stems , crafted by the Muppet Workshop , were distributed to mourners , who waved them while Belafonte sang " Turn the World Around . " A barefoot dancer in a sequined costume and painted face danced waving a foot - tall butterfly . In addition to Big Bird singing " Bein ' Green " and the " Just One Person " closing , Muppet numbers included the male performers singing " Baby Face " in the voices of the chickens , " It ' s in Every One of Us " and " You Are My Sunshine " in their own voices , Kevin Clash rendering " Lydia the Tattooed Lady " in the voice of Elmo , Richard Hunt and Frank Oz singing " Simon Smith and His Amazing Dancing Bear " in the voices of Scooter and Fozzie Bear , Jerry Nelson singing " Halfway Down the Stairs " in Robin the Frog ' s voice , Nelson and Steve Whitmire singing " Wemblin ' Fool " in the voices of Gobo Fraggle and Wembley Fraggle , Frank Oz singing " Cottleston Pie " in the voice of Fozzie , and Dave Goelz singing " I ' m Going to Go Back There Someday " in the voice of Gonzo . The service closed with the Dirty Dozen Brass Band playing " When the Saints Go Marching In . " Just One Person . The performers and characters who sang " Just One Person " included : St . Paul ' s Memorial . The London memorial was held on July 2 , 1990 , at St . Paul ' s Cathedral . Jane Henson and four of the five Henson children were present . The service began , appropriately enough , with a choir singing " . " The Rt . Reverend Jim Thompson , the Bishop of Stepney , delivered the service , and joked that Robin ' s song " Halfway Down the Stairs " perfectly defined the Anglican position , safely nestled in the middle . He also stated his own preference for Kermit , but noted that he knew a rector who managed to go through life by clinging to Miss Piggy as his guardian angel . Eulogy by Frank Oz . At the London memorial , Frank Oz delivered the following eulogy , which highlights a lesser - know aspect of Henson ' s character — his talent for " appreciation " :